Rise Above The Storm

Random Thoughts

2011-11-21T10:39:00.001-06:00

So I just need to ramble for awhile...

I am incredibly nervous for today. I hardly slept a wink last night. Today, I have a new student starting. Not just any student -- a foreign, Korean student. I have no idea what today is bringing and I have no idea where to even start and I really dislike feeling lost. But that's how it feels.
Even though I'm nervous, I'm excited to learn about my new student and to try and help her learn English. I think that she might be exactly what I need to settle my antsy "Why do I teach" feelings as of late.
Friday was a rotten evening. I was in a bit of a funk due to the fact that I was here and not where my heart yearned to be. It goes back to the thought that growing up, having a real job, and moving away from your best friends stinks.
In a way to combat my "I hate my horrible life" phase of Friday, I spent all of Saturday and Sunday scrubbing every nook and cranny in my apartment. I'm not sure this place has ever been this clean. I even rearranged and finally took my boxes and bike down to my storage unit. Nothing like getting to it after 2 1/2 years. It feels good. Really good.
Part of my weekend of power cleaning is brought on by the fact that my parents are coming for Thanksgiving. While we aren't celebrating at my house, they are bringing a Christmas tree for our church so they are going to be stopping in Madison to visit. My "mass cleaning because my mom is coming to visit" is just another reminder that I am turning into my mom!!
I'm beyond thrilled that this is only a 2 1/2 day week at school. I need a break and these students need a break! Let's be honest, we need a break from each other!

Hmm....so I'm done rambling for now. Thanks for listening!

Thankful November: Day 21

2011-11-21T10:23:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Steph!

Youngsters -- Jake, Kendra, Steph, and I

Circa 2006, but I love this one of us!

Guess what? Today is my best friend's birthday! Do you have a friend that you have spent your entire life with? I do. We went to preschool together, grade school, and even high school. In fact, the first time we were ever living in different cities was when we were 19 and heading for our first year of college. Then just a year later and we were together again and eventually living together. I know how incredibly special it is to have someone who is your best friend for your entire life because that's what Steph is for me.

The best part about our friendship is that it runs deep. It runs to places that few friendships go. I love that no matter what is going on in my life or hers, we can be a simple text, phone call, facebook message away. And the best part is that a simple "I just watched "Shag" and missed you." message can mean just as much as a full out conversation.

Steph,

I hope you have a simply wonderful birthday! Thank you for being a friend that goes beyond words and for always being there and loving me through all these years. I cannot imagine anyone else I would have rather grown up with. I love you! Can't wait to see you again soon!

Thankful November: Day 20

2011-11-20T21:20:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Alana.

Christmas Extravaganza 2008 - Alana, Me, Nicki - We love Christmas Cheer!

Today is my dear friend, Alana's, birthday! YAY! Since I'm still bumming that I couldn't be in Valentine to spend the weekend celebrating with Breaking Dawn, Holiday Previews, Italian feasts, and the like, I figured I would simply remember Alana by writing about her!

In a few words, Alana is -- Ah-mazing! Organized! Super Party Planner! Excel Spreadsheet Extraordinaire! Dedicated! My Role Model!

No joke -- not only has Alana become one of my closest friends, she is also the person I consider to be my biggest role model. She lives her life for others. She is always working to make sure everyone around her is being served by her work. For me, she emulates what it means to be servant for Christ by the time and effort she puts into serving others Not only that, she is the easiest person to talk to. Any time. Any place. Any subject. She can be a sounding board or can offer that piece of advice that just makes everything finally fall into place.

I have known Alana my entire life as her youngest sister is my very best friend. However it wasn't until about 5 years ago when she moved in with us that I got to know her on a deeper level. I look back and am so blessed that God allowed her to take the chance to move back to Eau Claire and to then take over the dorm mom job at Immanuel. Having her there during that time in my life has helped me grow and learn from her. She has taught me so many ah-mazing things from the glorious workings of an Excel spreadsheet to the importance of immersing yourself in the Scriptures to stay rooted in Christ.

Alana,
I am beyond words thankful for how you have shown me what it means to be a strong woman and a follower of Christ. Thank you for being an example and role model! I hope you had a splendid birthday! I love you!

Thankful November: Day 19

2011-11-20T20:48:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...my parents!

circa 2010 - Mt. Rushmore

Do you have ever one of those days when you think, "I'm turning into my mom..." or "I'm turning into my dad."? The older I get, the more I have those moments. But lately, I've noticed that when that happens, I'm not hiding in terror because I'm becoming them, I'm smiling because I can't think of anyone else I'd rather emulate.

My dad is man of few words. Partly because he is more of a watcher than a speaker, but mostly because I think he chooses to speak only when he truly has something to say. (Okay, so another reason might be because he mumbles so we aren't really sure what he says!) My dad can be a real joker. He is great at finding the good in the things that are happening. In fact, through all the seasons of life that I've been with my dad, I can't think of a time when I've seen him give up and be defeated. Instead, he keeps on working and says that's just how things go. It's a trait that I love about him and one that I can only hope to have!

My mom is a doer. She can out-do, just about anyone I know. She has worked more than one job for as long as I can remember. (she's even had four at one time!) It's not lying that her love language is most certainly acts of service.. However, the one thing I love the most about my mom is her commitment to family. You never have to guess whether or not she'll be on your side. You never have to wonder if she will be there when things are falling apart. You never have to wonder because she will always choose your side.

God has blessed me with parents that have stuck around in hard times and shown me that marriage and family is about commitment. Commitment to one another, commitment to Christ, and commitment to family. I am beyond thankful that God has given me my parents to raise me and mold me.

Thankful November: Day 18

2011-11-20T20:30:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Immanuel.

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

(Ingram - one of the original buildings on campus and the original faculty of Immanuel)

As a child, I knew from little on that I would one day graduate from 8th grade at Grace in Valentine and start my high school career 500 miles away in Eau Claire, WI on the campus of Immanuel. I grew waiting for that day. Not because I wanted to get away from Valentine or my family, but because I had grown up hearing all the great things about Immanuel. Things like the great friends you make, the ability to have your classes centered around God's Word, the chance to grow and learn from your mistakes.

I won't sugar coat it and tell you everything was great about my time at Immanuel. There were days when I couldn't wait to graduate and get away. Days when all I wanted was a home cooked meal or a hug from my parents. However, looking back 12 years later (ugh! I'm old!) I don't for one second regret my time at Immanuel. In fact, I am SO thankful for that time.

The 8 years I spent at Immanuel for High School and College are the years in my life that have helped to shape the woman I am today. Immanuel taught me how to be myself, how to make friends, how to live and work with others. But most importantly, it taught me to make sure Christ is always at the center of my life.

I am so thankful that my parents knew how important it was that I attend Immanuel and that they sacrificed being with me during my high school years so that I could be there. I could keep going on, but this video does a good job, so I'll just let it speak for me!

Friday Five: Children's Books

2011-11-18T09:08:00.001-06:00

My Friday Five is inspired by the giveaway Jess is doing over at The Macs. It's all about children's books, which I adore, so I figured I'd go ahead and share a few of my favorite books with you!

{If you haven't checked out Jess's blog lately {or ever}, do it! 1 - She has been doing a whole week of giveaways and there are some mighty cute items! 2 - She has 3, 1 now in heaven, adorable children, and
3 - she has a very special heart for the Lord that she shares so beautifully on her blog.}

Without further adieu:

Source: lulu.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

1 - Love You Forever by: Robert Munsch -- I adore this book.
It makes me tear up every time I read/sing it. This book makes a great baby present!
Source: amazon.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

2. Blueberries for Sal by: Robert McCloskey -- Who am I kidding? I love all of his books!
This one is my favorite because Sal is just so sweet!

Source: Uploaded by user via Jennifer on Pinterest

3. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by: Dr. Seuss -- I'm fairly certain that you can never go wrong with Dr. Seuss. He entertains children and adults alike. This is book is no exception!

Source: barnesandnoble.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

4. My Friend is Sad by: Mo Williams -- Mo Williams has the best characters ever! In addition to Piggie and Elephant, he also has the Pigeon books. If you are new to Mo Williams, you have to check him out!
His simple books are beyond wonderful. {I have used this book as gifts for friends who are going through a rough time. It's such a cute pick me up!}

Source: amazon.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

5. Tadpole's Promise by: Jeanne Willis -- This has a great surprise ending!
I am so glad someone introduced me to this book, because it's one of my favorites!

Wanna join in? Link up by visiting Kat from Living Like The Kings!

Thankful November: Day 17

2011-11-17T15:33:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...new beginnings.

Source: killmydaynow.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Starting something can be so hard. I am the queen of thinking, "On Monday, I will start eating healthy and working out." Monday rolls around -- nothing. Tuesday rolls around -- nothing. Next thing I know it's another weekend and I'm thinking about starting again on Monday. It's the cycle that has become my life for the last few years. The part that frustrates me the most is that I want it. I really do, but when it comes down to it, I'm really just afraid to start.

Two weeks ago, I decided I was starting. The mental ping-pong games needed to stop and I needed to get serious. So far -- it's working. No soda. No eating out. Working out. I'm still in awe that I've stuck it out so far. And you know what? It's hard work. Every day, I have to convince myself to go to the gym and plan my meals ahead. BUT, I haven't felt this good in a long time. My attitude is so much better. My sleep schedule is incredibly better. My energy is practically out of the roof. I like how this feels.

So today, I am thankful for new beginnings. With them, I have a whole new approach and outlook on this blessed life the Lord has given me!

Thankful November: Day 16

2011-11-16T18:48:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Jeff.

Jeff and our dad

When I think about my brother, Jeff, a whole slew of memories come to mind. Like how easy he was to please as a child. All the kid needed was a sippy cup of apple juice and a movie. Or how I would dance to Alan Jackson's "Summertime Blues" with him in my arms and he would laugh and giggle. Or when he ran through the glass on our storm door. (It was very scary especially since he was only 4!) Or when we thought he might not have the full use of his right hand because he sawed through his fingers. (Yes -- sawed) Or when he took the time to help a new camper wash the mashed potatoes out of his hair. Or how this kid has had his fair share of road blocks thrown in his way, but how he pushes through them in his own way and on his own terms. Or when I watched him spend hours making the cutest pink ribbons for his "Jeff's Angels" dance crew at camp.

Jeff' and his Angels

Jeff and I share a bond that goes unspoken, but completely understood. In fact, I'm not sure I can even fully explain it. What I do know is that even though he might get annoyed that I sometimes act like his "mom" and I get annoyed when he doesn't think about consequences, he will always be behind me 100%. He will always choose my side and support me. And I for him.

Jeff, I hope you know how much I love and care for you! Behind that sometimes hard facade there is a great big gentle giant, just don't forget to let him show! It's obvious that the Lord has great things planned for you. Remember to only "Be Still" and let Him work for you. I love you!

Thankful November: Day 15

2011-11-15T09:54:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...my students.

We love the zoo!

This year I have 3 students (until next week, when we add a Korean foreign exchange student for 3 months). Count 'em -- one. two. three. Still not the smallest classroom I've had, but this year has been quite unique. In addition to only having 3 students, they are all boys. Can I let you in a little secret??? I love the fact that they are boys. We get to build with Legos, blocks, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and K'nex in our free time. Our favorite recess activity involves creating a whole new world in the woods behind the school. This world involves a money system of pine cones, a large assortment of weapons which are sticks, and an even better system of government, by which you do go to trial and possibly jail for the misuse of weapons, stealing of "money", or not cleaning your area of the fort. It makes me smile just thinking of it.

To add to that greatness, these boys are just funny. A little competitive, but funny. They also have big hearts of service. Every week we get the chance to volunteer over at a local assisted living and my heart soars watching them interactive with the elderly. They treat them like royalty. They are kind and compassionate. They never get frustrated or annoyed when the sweet ladies want to hold their hands or ask them their name seven times. Last week, my 7th grader even danced with a sweet old lady who asked him. *tear*

These boys have made this year great and I can't wait for everything else that comes our way.

Thankful November: Day 14

2011-11-15T09:00:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Music.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't listen to music. Whether getting ready in the morning, in the car, at school, working out, or for a good ole' cleaning session, my tunes are a playing. It what makes my day better. In fact, I've noticed that if I'm humming it usually means I'm in a good mood! And I like all kinds of music -- classical, musicals, Christian, pop, rock, oldies, etc. The only genre I can do without is rap--eek!

So I decided that I would go ahead and include a smattering of my favorite tunes at this moment. Enjoy!

Thankful November: Day 13

2011-11-15T08:38:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Megan!

Attending a boarding school for high school and then college have given me the chance to make some of the more priceless friends. Megan is no execption. We first bonded over the Freshman Newcomer's Party and our friendship has only blossomed. (minus my Junior/her Sophomore year, but who's counting!) In my close group of friends, I admire Megan because she is not afraid to do new things. Like play college Softball. {there is something great about going to a college softball game and being like "Yep...she's my friend and she's a rockstar catcher!"} OR Buy a house. Yep, she did that and she's my friend. P.S. She has a great new house!

Megs,
Thank you for being an amazing friend and for showing me that it's okay to take leaps and try something new! I miss and love you lots!

By the way -- tune in next week for a couple of friends who get to celebrate birthdays and who I'm super thankful for!

Thankful November: Day 12

2011-11-14T10:43:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for ... my dear friend, Nicki!

Check out how awesome we were in high school!

Reasons why I'm thankful for Nicki:

Our friendship is easy. I can call her at any time and we pick up right were we left off.
She states her mind. This is one of the things I admire the most about her. She will always tell you how she feels and you never have to wonder if there is more.
She loves and cares for her family. She gave up her career, moved home, and is taking care of her mother and younger brother as her mom battles brain cancer. That's a huge move for a 27 year old. One I truly admire her for taking and not once questioning.
She knows my deep secrets and still loves me.
She is one motivated girl! She runs 10ks like they're nothing, she's doing a 1 year grad program and kicking butt. She sets her mind to something and always sees it through!
We just get each other and there is something extremely comforting in that fact

Nemo, my love, Thank you for finding it in your heart to love me and be my friend in though we hated each other during grade school. Rooming with you our freshman year of high school changed my life. (Room 106: The Room With The Secret Door!) I love you! ~ Jello :-)

Thankful November: Day 11

2011-11-11T11:44:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...all the Veterans!

Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

There is just something wonderful about a Veteran. Yes, they've sacrificed their lives for mine. Yes, they've shown what true bravery and honor looks like. But for me, it's the pride they display. Pure, honest pride -- not in themselves -- but in their country. It gives me goosebumps listening to a Veteran tell me about the days when he served in the war. It gives me tears when I see videos and pictures of soldiers coming home to their families. But the goosebumps and tears are all linked back to their faces and the pride and devotion they have for their country.

Today, I am remembering all the members of our military who have put their lives on the line so that I might enjoy a safe and free nation. Today, I am praying for the families who serve their country by continuing on with life when their husband, father, wife, mother, child serve in the military. Today, I am praying that God will be with those who have lost loved ones in the military service. Today, I am praying that God will continue to be with the men and women in our military as they serve Him by serving our nation.

Friday Five: John Wayne

2011-11-11T09:59:00.001-06:00

I was perusing Pinterest yesterday and some how decided to search "John Wayne." {Isn't it amazing how you can start at "Thanksgiving" and end at "John Wayne?"} Once my search results displayed a plethura of pictures, I was reminded how much he makes me miss my childhood. "Childhood?!?" you ask. Why yes! I grew up watching (and re-watching) John Wayne. My brother was a big fan of playing "Cowboys and Indians," and I was in the business of making his life happy, so I played and watched. A LOT. {and maybe enjoyed it myself...}

As I was trying to decide what to do my Friday Five on today, it become evident that I should share with you my all-time favorite John Wayne movies! So sit back in your saddle. Grab your gun and hostler. {every watcher knows you have to be ready to help John shoot any bad guys} and ENJOY!

Source: granvillehouse.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

1. McClintok - "This is probably the first marriage I've ever seen start out with a spanking!" Ah yes! Love the style of this movie!

2. Rooster Cogburn - Hello, Katherine Hepburn!

3. The Cowboys - This is one of my all-time favorites, but I hate that he dies!

4. True Grit - While I can't stand Maddie Ross, there are some signature John Wayne fighting quotes in this movie. "Fill your hands...." Plus you get to see his soft side.

5. Big Jake - When your brother's name is "Jake," you are guaranteed to be watching this one all the time. I'm pretty sure after watching this he was convinced he was named after the guy!

Wanna join in? Link up by visiting Kat from Living Like The Kings!

Thankful November: Day 10

2011-11-10T11:21:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...God's love.

Source: akosihaney.tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Thankful November: Day 9

2011-11-09T11:13:00.000-06:00

I'm thankful for...SNOW!

Whew! That was hard to write. I had a whole blog post done for today, but then it started snowing around these parts. My students were cheering when the rain switched to snow. While I was sitting at my desk trying not to cry. {No joke} Then I remembered this month is about being thankful and I'm throwing this up as a reminder that I should be thankful even for the snow.

SNOW! And my beaut of a car!

Snow really does make recess 10x more enjoyable. The activities we do in the snow are endless. Sledding, snowball fights, snowman contests, running contests, snow angels -- you name it, we do it in snow. But when it snows on November 9th, I can't help but be bit sad. And even though this will melt by Friday, I know this is a just a preview of what is coming!

Thankful November: Day 8

2011-11-08T11:41:00.000-06:00

I'm thankful for...a reliable car.

(Sorry no picture! All I have is one of my phone showing the cracked bumper and taillight from someone backing up into me--it's not pretty and it's not worth the effort to get it off of my phone)

Over the last few days, my car had been acting a bit funny. It wasn't starting on the first try and then when it did start it was resetting my radio/clock/trip meters/avg mpg meters and my gauges would flutter. My gut reaction was the battery. But my gut isn't so great with cars. So. I called my dad.

I think that's just a daughter's natural reaction. The best part is that I know my dad is not a car guy. Yet every time, I call him. And every time he says the same thing, "Well, it could be a lot of things. Better take it somewhere and have it looked at" I'm here to tell you, yesterday was no different. Sigh.
So...I called my brothers. The one I trust the most with cars NEVER answers his phone, which left me to my older brother who was in agreement that it sounded like my battery.

An hour and $110 later, I have a new battery and a much better sense of peace about driving my car. I just keep reminding myself that it is better to have it fixed and reliable then to be stranded on the side of the road. Ah yes, the joys of owning a vehicle and maintaining it!

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Shannanigans Giveaway!

2011-11-07T12:32:00.000-06:00

Source: shannonsswell.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Want to win this super cute necklace? Go check out Shannon's blog - Shannanigans. There are a ton of ways to win!

While you're there, read her blog. I promise you won't be disappointed. She is hi-larious! No joke. I just about pee myself reading her posts. Plus she just started a party planning company - Bottle Pop Party Company! This lady has every detail figured out -- no joke. Be sure to check out her pics from her son's Gnome birthday party. She also did a monthly photo shoot with her son. I die laughing at these. Especially his 4 month pictures.

Seriously, do not waste any more time at my boring blog -- GO and SEE. Oh -- and enter the giveaway!

Thankful November: Day 7

2011-11-07T11:44:00.001-06:00

I'm thankful for...Mondays.

Source: facebook.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I know, I know. Normally people hate Mondays, but I've come to enjoy the start of a new week. (Yep. I'm a firm believer in Monday being the start of a new week. Sundays are my recharge days.) There is something great about the promise of a new week. I like the feeling of getting a fresh-start every 7 days. The teacher in me likes Mondays because the students come in with fresh minds and I love that my lesson plan book is all nice, neat, and thought out.

It's true -- I love Mondays!

Thankful November: Day 6

2011-11-06T08:49:00.000-06:00

I'm thankful for...sleep!

Source: agreatimpression.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

That extra hour of sleep was exactly what I needed last night. After having to work an 11 hour shift instead of a 5 hour shift, I was exhausted. But more than just being thankful for "falling back," I am thankful that sleep comes easily to me. I have never had much of an issue with falling asleep and staying asleep. There are times when I go to bed and I'm not quite tired yet, but a little reading and I'm out. My dad struggles with insomnia so I've seen first-hand how hard it can be to live and deal with. It makes me even more thankful that it hasn't been an issue for me.

Isn't sleep great?

Thankful November: Day 5

2011-11-05T10:44:00.001-05:00

I'm thankful for...my sweet nieces.

Aren't they just the cutest?

Sweet Sisters

The Cheerleader and The Chicken

Matchy Sisters

I'm not sure I can even remember what life felt like prior to having these two sweet nieces. All I know is that I have a lot of love overflowing for these two little girls.

Miss Z loves cards, all things girly, Barney, and Elmo. (I approve the Barney watching, but Elmo drives me bonkers!) She also has it figured out that I call my parents house every time they are babysitting so that I can talk to her. Now she hears the phone ring and says, "Jenn." Smart little thing! I have also taken up sending her a card on a monthly basis. It's a fun and fairly cheap way to keep "in touch" and to make her day!

Miss E is growing up quickly. Rumor has it she is a bit of a chunk, but a cute one at that. She might have come into the world smaller than her sister, but she is now just a few pounds away from being heavier! Word on the street is that she is a very smiley and happy baby. Christmas can't come soon enough. I haven't seen her since she was just over a month old.

Friday Five: Words that make me shutter

2011-11-04T13:11:00.003-05:00

I'm going to have a hard time paring down this list...

1 ~ moist: {cringe} Ewww...I think I hear moist and then think "sticky, warm, smelly" and I just can't handle it.

2 ~ curd: Now I love me a good cheese curd, but just the word "curd" is willie-inducing.

3 ~ waffle: I can't even explain why this one makes me shudder, maybe it's because I don't like to eat them?

4 ~ undies: I mean really??? Are you 90 and talking to a 2 year old??? YUCK! (panties is in the same boat!)

5 ~ chunk -y,-s,: Another cheese term, but it hurts my ears! Please make it stop!!

Thankful November: Day 4

2011-11-04T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for...the memories...

Top: My dad fighting the fire.
Bottom: Fire and smoke pouring out.

On what seemed like a normal early June morning, my cell phone rang. Upon opening my groggy eyes, I saw it was my mom. I was not surprised as we talk all the time, but slightly annoyed as my 6 hours of sleep was just not quite enough. The words she spoke were enough to send me flying out of bed and practically to my car to drive the 12 hours home to Nebraska. After a lot of uncontrollable tears, she had me convinced that driving home was not the answer. Instead, I sat at home and cried all day long. Our family owned business, Ohlmann Building Center, was burning to the ground. To add to it, my dad and brother, who are local volunteer firemen in our small community, were battling a blaze that was destroying the only place they had ever worked. The business that we had all grown up helping at was going to be gone.

Out of God's great mercy, no one hurt or harmed in or while fighting the fire. The day following the fire, we were open for business. (The back shops and lumber area went untouched) Now almost one and half years later, we have a completely new and beautiful building. A building that far exceeds anything we could have imagined. It's real pretty!

While this whole thing seems tragic (and at the time it did feel that way), it has proved to be one of the greatest blessings in our lives. As a family, we grew. We were reminded that buildings and possessions are but "things" of this world. We were reminded how the Lord gives and the Lord takes because all things belong to Him. We are but His stewards. We were reminded to trust. To trust in His timing, His will, His plan. We were reminded that He promises us that He will always work things out for our good.

"And we know that all things work for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

We were reminded how great of a community we lived in and how important our church family was. The outpouring of support and love was beyond our comprehension.

And we learned to cherish the memories. The fire destroyed the building and many precious heirlooms (100 year old business has some neat treasures inside) but it did not and will not destroy the many memories we all have of "growing" up at Ohlmann Building Center. I can still picture my grandpa (and then my dad's) office as if I could drive there today and walk right in. I can still remember what it was like getting a chance to use the cash register for the first time! I can still remember how much I despised cleaning the men's employee bathroom -- PIGS!

So today, I'm thankful for the memories!

Remind Me Who I Am...

2011-11-03T15:26:00.000-05:00

I heard this on the radio. Then I watched the video. Now I'm hooked. The End.

Thankful November: Day 3

2011-11-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for...Jessica!

The birthday's just keep on coming this month. Today is my sister's, Jessica, 20th birthday! (I find it hard to believe that my parents only have 2 of their 5 children still in their teens.) BTW - isn't this picture great? It's one of my all-time favorites!

Jess is a great sister. Not only is she the life of the party, but she also had a huge heart. I love that you never know what she might do or say next, but you can bet your dollar that she is one reliable girl. She gladly gives up her time and energy to help others whether it be by planning and directing a summer youth camp or just showing up to hang out with an old friend.

Lou -- I hope you have a simply splendid birthday! And although I'm still jealous that you are in Nebraska visiting and I am not, I really hope you are having a wonderful time. Love you!

Thankful November: Day 2

2011-11-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

I'm thankful for...Shelby!

Another cousin. Another birthday! Today is her sweet sixteen! This only means one thing -- I'm old. While there are some great perks to being the oldest grandchild, getting old first is not one of them! But I digress...

I love how Shelby is full on crazy! This girl goes a million miles a minute. She is constantly on the move between sports, choir, friends, dance, chimes, you name it -- this girl does it. And not only is she involved in a ton, but she EXCELS at all of them. Her above average abilities make me choose to sit in a cold hockey rink when it's already below zero outside! Another top of all of this, Shelby is just a fun, free spirit. It takes a lot to knock this girl down. Happy Birthday, Shelbs!

Thankful November: Day 1

2011-11-02T08:52:00.005-05:00

I'm going to try to hop back on the Blog-bandwagon by doing a daily "thankful" post this month. I can already tell it's a bit ambitious, seeing as how the first post is already late! Oh well. Here goes.

Day 1: 11-1-11 (I'm a number geek and this just makes my mind soar! Pretty sure my students were sick of hearing about how cool it was yesterday. They will hate me come 11-11-11!)

I'm thankful for...Becca!

Talk about a great cousin. This girl just blows my mind with her thoughtfulness and selflessness. She's grown up in a family of all boys. And we are talking full-blown, deer-hunting, heart-eating, full-out wrestling boys. But she holds her own. She even does the deer hunting business. When she's not out dueling with the men, she's in the kitchen baking or out shopping with the girls. Talk about well-rounded.

Today is Becca's 15th birthday. And for gifts we like to exchange incredibly ugly Christmas ornaments, and this year I found the perfect one. Check this puppy out. (Our only rule is that it must sparkle and contain feathers!) I can't wait to see her next weekend and for her to add that guy to her collection!

Thankful Thursday...

2011-08-04T10:36:00.003-05:00

***Capital Square - Downtown Madison. Although this place is now chalked up and filled with posters, this place is still very beautiful. I especially love Wednesday nights during the summer for their concerts. The place fills and it turns into a great place for people watching -- which I love!

***Open windows and fresh air.

***Homemade Salsa. YUM!

***An awakened love for reading -- thank you Karen Kingsbury!

***Walking with friends.

***A sister who I get to see this weekend as she rocks her roll as a bridesmaid at our dear friend's wedding!

***Tomorrow's lunch date with a sweet friend and her daughter!

***A weekend away before I have to work over 35 hours at the Family Vid next week -- Oui!

What are you thankful for today???

Friday Five - 5 Random Favorites

2011-07-29T10:20:00.006-05:00

It appears that I am getting very good at posting on Friday's for the Friday Five, but I am lacking on the other days of the week. Maybe I need to come up with an alliteration theme for each day. Feel free to give a shout out if you have any good ideas!

Today, I thought I would share with you some random favorite things.

1. Favorite Blog - While I do enjoy me some P-dub, my go-to-can't-miss-a-post blog is Katie over at Marriage Confessions. She is down right hilarious, PLUS she has such a great and genuine heart. I just love how deeply she shares. Oh and she has two of the cutest little kiddos -- Bean Man and Gracie-Girl! So, if you haven't checked her out, DO IT!
2. Favorite Appliance - Weird huh? Well, I recently received an Iced Tea Maker from my parents. It's a whole lot of wonderful! It's an understatement to say that I love sun tea. (I just returned from a 5 week vacation visiting the parents in Nebraska, we went through at least 1 gallon of tea per day -- we're tea people, but it must be straight up...no lemon, no sugar!) The problem is I have a spider-infested patio off of my wee-bit-sketchy apartment, so I don't enjoy putting my jar outside in such conditions. This Iced Tea Maker is just the ticket.

3. Favorite Author/Book Series - Remember how I told you that I got rid of my cable? It's going great so far, mostly because now I can read! I've always enjoyed reading, but lately it's almost consuming me and that's because I'm reading the Baxter Family Series by Karen Kingsbury. If you are any sort of fan of Christian Fiction, pick these up. You won't be disappointed!
4. Favorite Aunt - Okay, so I really don't play favorites. She is just my favorite aunt right now because I haven't seen her in over a year and she is coming to visit in just a few short weeks and I am beyond excited. My Aunt Desi is wonderful. A wonderful mom, a christian wife, a beautiful friend. Without a doubt, one of my biggest role models. I loved when we lived a mere hour away from each other, but last year they moved all the way to Washington, and now I miss her something fierce. I can't wait to see her!
5. Favorite Song - This changes almost by the minute, but for the last week it has stayed the same. It's not a new song, in fact, I've known it for quite some time. However, last week we sang this song at our VBS and every time I had chills and tears from watching those beautiful children sing and do the actions for this song. Now, I just can't stop listening to it!

Friday Five: Things I Love About My Sister

2011-07-21T22:56:00.006-05:00

This coming Saturday will mark the end of my 4th week of being back in Nebraska to visit for the summer. On Monday, I will try to locate all of my belongings and start the trek back to Wisconsin. These last 4 weeks have been spent at home doing a whole slew of things, all of which have been spent with my little sister, Johanna, at my side. So, I figured as a good bye to home, I would give her the spotlight for my Friday Five!

(Update -- just snapped last night post showers because I realized I still needed a picture for this post! Oh boy...)

1. Her Laugh. No joke, this girl has got one crazy laugh. It usually involves her snorting and ending up on the floor, which just makes everything even more hilarious.

2. Her Gentle Spirit. Johanna has always been the sweet girl who will do everything she can to make sure she doesn't hurt someone else. In our house of 5 siblings, she was always the peacemaker and never once took sides.

3. Her Diva-ness. While she is a sweetheart to her core, this girl can rock some serious "Diva-ness," especially if she is lacking in sleep. The good part is that it's turned into the running joke now, and she just laughs it off when we call her on it! Last week I scored a silicone bracelet which reads "DIVA" so, of course, I needed to snatch it up for her, but the best part is that she actually wears it! Love her.

4. Her Nicknames. I love nicknames. However, I only like nicknames that come for the original name. Johanna has so many and I love that she answers to all of them even in public! Things like -- Jo-Jo, Jo-Johanna, Joj, Jo, Hannah-Jo, Jo-Be, and the list just goes on!

5. Her Love of Home. Johanna has always been the one who struggles with being away from home the most. Her first 2 years of attending camp, she bawled every night, even though my mom was a cook, I was a counselor, and 2 other siblings were also campers. She just missed being at home. Now that she attends school in Eau Claire -- 10 hours away, this girl is known for having a ROUGH time transitioning back into being away from home. While a big part of it comes back to missing mom and dad, I think the things she misses the most come back to just being in her home environment. I love that she loves home!

Friday Five: Favorite TV Shows

2011-07-14T23:26:00.008-05:00

In approximately 10 days, I will be no longer have Dish. This means that my biggest form of entertainment will be gone. Over the last 2 years, I have found quite a few TV shows to watch. (read: become addicted to) I decided to get rid of Cable/Dish for a few reasons. 1 - Money (Doesn't it always come back to money???) 2 - Lifestyle (I feel like I need to find other ways to occupy my extra time)

Therefore, in honor of my last few days as a TV watcher, I thought I would share with everyone my current favorite shows.

NOTE: These are in no particular order....as that would have been way too tough for my analytical-self!

1. Dancing With The Stars
I love this show in so many ways! It never fails, my favorite star is never the one to actually win and there is always one who makes it to the finals that is not a great dancer, but I still love it! I think this might be one of the few shows I will continue to follow online!

2. Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice

I have been watching Grey's since the beginning and I might love the spin off of Private Practice even more than I like Grey's. Although, I will be happy to not have to watch Addison's crazy drama anymore!

3. The Bachelor / The Bachelorette
A-D-D-I-C-T-I-N-G! Oh boy. Every season I tell myself I'm not going to watch and next thing I know I'm hooked! It doesn't help that one of my best friends, Megan, and I like to share notes and thoughts each season. Ali's season I even went so far as to to take ACTUAL notes on each of the guys -- pathetic? Yes. But still so wonderful!

4. Biggest Loser
I just love me some Bob and Jillian. Plus there is always one person that I just fall in love with each season!

5. One Tree Hill
This is another show that I've been watching since it started. Each week, they find something else crazy to happen and yet I still come back to find out more!

What about you? Any favorite TV shows?

News...

2011-07-05T22:40:00.003-05:00

Let me start off this post by telling all of you that I have a hard time watching the news on TV. Some call me "ignorant," but for me, watching the news just makes me crabby. It's always so one-sided and quite frankly, I'm okay with being "ignorant."

My dad on the other hand, he watches it every time he has the remote. Which in our house is anytime he's home. Naturally, he's been watching the Casey Anthony case. A case which has brought a LOT of coverage. While I usually try to find somewhere else to go, I have had to be upstairs working on project meaning I have been hearing the news coverage for the last week.

By now, even my ignorant self couldn't have missed the fact that Casey Anthony was found to be not guilty of manslaughter. While it appears that many people are quite upset by this decision, I couldn't help but think about those poor jurors. My prayers go out to all of them as I am sure they probably hated the fact that they were called on to be on that jury. Oh Lord, I'm not sure I have the strength to be a member of a jury. If you ever see fit for me to be in that situation please give me that strength. Until then, please grant all those who are called upon to serve in that capacity the ability to do so with an unbiased viewpoint.

But this afternoon as I was driving my sister to work and listening to a Christian Radio station, I happened to hear one lady make a stunning comment. A comment that I just can't get out of my head. She said, "Casey Anthony will probably be released soon and will possibly relocate and perhaps feel like she needs to find a church. What if it's yours? What if she's in your small group? In your living room?" WOW!! That will make you think...

So fellow bloggers/friends, your thoughts on the news in general? Casey Anthony? Welcoming her into your congregation? Give it to me!

Baseball and Nieces

2011-06-29T09:19:00.007-05:00

I'm not sure if there is anything quite as sweet as what I witnessed the other night. My little brother (who really isn't so little anymore) had a double header baseball game, which meant we showed up to lend a little support and cheer him on.

My other brother and his new family of four even made it out to watch and I'm so glad that they did. It was so fun to watch Z follow "Uncle Jett" from outfield to dugout and back again. She was just so excited for him. He even waved to her when he was in the outfield -- she just couldn't stop laughing and clapping. Until he did one better, at the end of the inning he ran all the way over to where we were watching to see her. She was on cloud nine!

This is why being an aunt/uncle is simply amazing!

One of the not so great parts of the night -- my brother and sister-in-laws SUV. Not so great!!

Emmy Lou

2011-06-27T13:53:00.004-05:00

June 23 was my 26th Birthday. I'm not a big birthday person. To me it's really just another day, but this year was much more special! Not only did I get to spent it with over 100 campers (who made sure to wish me Happy Birthday every chance they had), not only did I get to spent it with 2 guy counselors who share the same birthday as me (Nathan and Sam), but my new niece was born on my birthday! How cool is that??? And the best part, she is also my god-daughter.

Miss Emmy Lou was born on June 23 and came in around 9 lbs 5 oz. And let me just tell you that she is a doll!

(sorry this is blurry...my camera hates me today, so you get my mom's version)

Yesterday, she was baptized into God's gracious Kingdom with her uncle Josh and myself serving as Sponsors. What a blessing!!
I'm going to be home visiting for the next 3 weeks, so I'm hoping to get a lot of baby Emmy and big sister Zoey time!

Where am I?

2011-06-21T08:04:00.003-05:00

I'll give you a few hints.

~ Over 100 kids.

~ Over 30 staff.

~ Sleepless nights, but lots of laughs.

~ BUNCO! (with over 100 kids)

~ Ultimate Team Competitions.

~ Way too much canteen.

~ Yoga. Sweatin' to the Oldies. Archery. Arts and Crafts. Line Dancing. And. So. Much. More.

If you guessed CAMP...you WIN! (okay...so there are no prizes, just the satisfaction of knowing you were right!)

Want to know how things are going...check out the camp blog! You can find it here!

Friday Five: Jobs I've had...

2011-06-17T11:17:00.003-05:00

Kat from Living Like the Kings, is a faithful blogger. I am not. However, every week when she does her Friday Five, I find myself wanting to join in. Today, since I am sitting at my sister's doing her laundry and waiting for her to get back from class, I decided to join in on the fun! Thanks for helping me blog again Kat!

1. Carhop/Cook/Manager - Frosty Drive In
This was also my very first job. I started the fall of my 6th grade year and I was SOOOO excited. My best friend was working there as were both of her older sisters and I was ready to be added to the list of carhops. Steph and I loved working together and we worked a lot of days after school because our school let out just a wee bit sooner than the public school, and not going to lie Carol (our boss) loved us! I can still remember Steph and I spending our day at school scheming what crazy meal we were going to put together for our Work Order that night. Great times! Eventually, we moved inside and did the cooking, and then I soon found myself in the position of a Closing Manager. The best part is that I still work here when they need help (how crazy is that??) and I pretty much consider Carol (boss) family. I always make a point to stop in and visit!
2. Childcare Lead - Color My World Daycare
LOVED this job. It was crazy. It was funny. It was full of crazy kids, but it was worth every second. I started in the Baby Room, which was beyond words amazing. I fell so hard in love for those kids and was always sad to see them move to the 1 year old room, yet it was fun to see how independent they had become. Eventually, I moved into the 3-4 year old room and spent my summers planning an awesome day for those kiddos.

3. SPED Paraprofessional - Valentine Middle School
In between my Sophomore and Junior years of college, I decided to take a year off. I wanted to move back home to try and figure out a lot of things in my life. Things like whether or not I could live in Valentine for the rest of my life (although, I did go back to school in WI, I did learn that I could do it and would love it) and if I wanted to teach in public school or Christian Day School (CDS). Upon moving home, I quickly landed a job as a Special Education Para in the Middle School. This job challenged me in SO many ways. I was cleaning up poop from 6th graders, I was shoved into a locker by a student, I was almost taken out by a student throwing a baseball at me. It. Was. Crazy. But through it all I learned how much I loved those students. The ones who challenged me every day. The ones who made me have to live life on my toes and to be ready for whatever crazy thing they were going to throw at me next.

Not only did I learn so much about myself that year, I also met some amazing people. When you grow up in a small community like Valentine, you "know" everyone. I can walk down the street and tell you if that person lives in Valentine or is someone visiting, but that year I got to really know and fall in love with the people in Valentine. Some of my greatest mentors were the teachers I worked beside every day. So blessed!

That year also taught me that I wanted to be CDS teacher. Not because public school stinks, (I'm a true fan of public school -- it's all about what works for your family!) but because I couldn't imagine having to teach students without being able to talk about God and faith. It is the most important thing in my life, and I couldn't imagine not being able to share it. SO...I moved back to WI and re-enrolled in the Teaching Program at Immanuel. The End. (Whew...)

4. Claims Mentor - UnitedHealth Group
Oh boy. I had a love-hate relationship with this job. I started out as a claims processor and it was BORING. So incredibly boring! BUT it was 20 hours a week from 4-9, M-Th. Seriously, could a student find a better schedule? I had my weekends free and I never had to worry about my class/work schedule getting messed up. HOWEVER my job meant I sat at a computer for 5 hours every night pushing the same buttons over and over and over. Eventually, my supervisor started giving me special projects and then I started to like the job. Soon those projects led to my supervisor suggesting I apply for the mentor job and then I loved my job. I was teaching people, I was working on special projects, I was troubleshooting....I was in love! I eventually graduated and moved into a full-time position and the big projects just kept coming. I was one of two mentors chosen to do a meet and greet demo for the President of the Company. WHAT?!? However, just as I was getting ready to start interviewing for a new job (Claims Process Planner--the one I was working towards), I found out I had the call to teach at a little school in Middleton. Best Day Ever!

5. Video Associate?? - Family Video
(I'm not really sure what my title is -- the part-time peon) I'm actually employed here currently. It's part-time and it's pretty fun. I am still amazed about how much you actually do have to and know to work at a video rental store, but I love that it's a job where I can shut off my brain and just do it. It's a mind-free job and I love that about it.

Well...this was much longer than I ever anticipated. Thanks for staying and making it through! Remember to check out Kat's Friday Five's at Living Like the Kings!

Two Down...

2011-06-17T09:31:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I am done with my second year of teaching! It's amazing how fast time flies. I feel like just yesterday we were gearing up for Christmas vacation and now here I am almost 3 weeks into summer break!

We had a great end to our school year! On the last week of school, we had our End of the Year Fun Night and boy was it packed full of fun. This year we served our guests a Spaghetti Dinner. I was pretty nervous to serve a spaghetti meal because it's not something you can really make too far ahead, and my nerves proved true as we finished serving the 1st course, salad, to find out that our noodles were far from done. The good part was that we have a gas stove at school, so it boils water super duper fast. The other great part was that we were serving some of the sweetest and most understanding people out there! Gotta love parents and grandparents who are just happy to see their children in action, and not too concerned about the food coming their way!

After the Spaghetti meal, the students put on the play "The TRUE Story of the Three Little Pigs." It was cute, but pretty short! I found it's very hard to come up with a suitable play for a K and 1st grader and then 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. This one worked out pretty well though. My little boys made the cutest little pigs! (I had a picture to add, but blogger hates me right now!)

Overall, a fun end to a great year. Three weeks later I can confidently say that I have finished up everything from last year and I am moving into the planning stages for the 2011-2012 school year. It looks like I'll have 2 students. Yep, not a misprint. Two boys, 1st grade and 7th grade, and I'm so excited for all of the fun boys activities I get to plan!!

Forgiven

2011-03-03T07:33:00.007-06:00

What are Your Sins?

Pride?

Selfishness?

Ingratitude?

Laziness?

Lack of love?

Failure to pray?

Worry?

Littleness of faith?

Littleness of joy?

Self-pity?

A failure to open our mouths to confess our Savior when God gave us the opportunity?

A failure to use the gifts God has given us to spread His Word?

A despising of others?

An unwillingness to forgive those who have sinned against us?

A tendency to trust in ourselves rather than in our God?

A lack of confidence in the power of God’s Word?

A lack of appreciation for the Means of Grace?

A weariness in repeating the same old truths because of an apparent lack of fruits?

Last night, in our Bible Class we were talking about the need to take a good look at ourselves to see how we have failed. Pastor threw up the list of questions above. As we took turns reading each one, I just keep thinking, "Yep." "Yes." "All the time." "Way too often." It hurt. It was pressing to the heart, yet after each one I smiled because even though I fail and fail often, He never did. Not once. And even though it hurts to look at myself and see how many times I have failed Him, I am confident in His Life, His Death, and His Grace. I AM FORGIVEN AND SET FREE!

Photo Credit

You Know You're A Teacher When...

2011-02-11T10:42:00.008-06:00

My favorite blogger, Katie, from Marriage Confessions does a Blog Reader of the Month. I LOVE when she does them because I always seem to find a new blog to read and love! Last month, she featured Kat from Living like the Kings. And what would you know...a new blog to love! If you haven't checked her out, DO IT! She is funny, witty, and a new mommy to the sweetest little girl! She also has a pretty cute and funny love story on her blog. I know I spent a good 1-2 hours pouring over all of her old blog posts!

This week, Kat did a post on "You Know You're a Mom When..." and asked others to join in. Of course, that's not something I have a lot of information on yet, but I did get a good laugh out of her post and all the others that are playing along! I decided I'd try and join in, but put my spin on it.

So without further adieu:

You Know You're A Teacher When....

1. More than once, you have been called "mom", even though you are not married and certainly don't have children.

2. You get home from school at 6 pm to realize you have had to go to the bathroom since before lunchtime.

3. You have turned into a HUGE germ freak. (I've just recently realized how bad it really has become. I watch them put a finger in their mouth and cringe until I make them go and wash! **it makes me shutter even while typing this!)

4. You see someone holding their pencil or pen incorrectly and you do everything possible to not grab it from them and throw a pencil gripper on it. (My 6th grader is still using a pencil gripper and will until he graduates from 8th grade--it's how I roll)

5. Your favorite form of "punishment" for your Kindergarten and 1st grader is jumping jacks. It's just too cute!!

6. You find yourself spending more $$$$ than you care to share at the Dollar Tree, all because you know it will be great to have at school.

7. You find yourself driving out in a blizzard to get more food for the gerbils. (Which you don't even like, but would feel horrible if they die because they have been out of food for almost a week!!)

8. You love snow days, but you dread what it does to your lesson plans!

9. You buy happy meals just for the toy. (They make great additions to my treasure chest!)

10. You plan a lesson around something the student loves because you know you will get the "Miss Ohlmann, Today was the BEST day ever." response!

Patience

2011-01-20T07:42:00.004-06:00

Photo Credit

Lord, please grant me patience today.

Patience with parents who do without thinking,

Therefore making my job even more difficult.

Patience with students who do just enough to get by,

Leaving me frustrated as I see their true potential.

Patience in my words, looks, and actions;

Let them only show my love for You.

Teach Me. Show Me. Lead Me.

True Grit

2011-01-18T13:16:00.001-06:00

Stop whatever you might be doing, watch this, then follow the directions below:

1 - Go to itunes and download this song (it's called "The Wicked Flee" it's on the soundtrack)....I guarantee it will make you a happier person! Who am I kidding? This whole soundtrack is yummy!

2 - Go see this movie! (This comes from someone who grew up watching John Wayne and was as nervous as ever to see this movie, but LOVED IT!)

3 - Go. See. Love.

Money Makeover

2011-01-17T13:44:00.004-06:00

I'm back!! :-) A 2-week break between posts isn't too bad right?

Thought I'd give everyone a little update on my Money Makeover 2011! First off, if you haven't heard of Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover," hop-skip-and/or-run over to your local library or amazon.com and purchase this book ASAP. Even if you don't follow all of his steps, or even use his methods, you will gain so much from this book!

Step 1: Save $1,000 for an Emergency Fund. I cheated on this step just a bit...I only saved $500. I figured as a single person this should be enough if I would need it.

Step 2: Snow Ball Bill Pay-off. List your bills from low to high. Pay the minimum on each bill and any extra goes to the lowest bill. Pay if off and then apply that amount to the next smallest bill and continue until all bills are paid off. It makes perfect sense. One feels a sense of accomplishment from paying something off and each time you pay off one it means you have more money available to put on the next. So far I've paid off 2 little debts and it really does feel great! They were department store cards and then I had both of them cancelled, so I can never use them again! :-) It really does feel good and I can't wait to keep it going!

There are some additional steps after to keep yourself debt free, but I'm not there yet, so I haven't read that far in the book yet!

Dogs

2010-12-28T22:54:00.005-06:00

Barnes

For anyone who knows me, they probably know me as the person who could do without animals. Every now and then I'm okay with them, but for the most part, I'm not a fan. I know this makes me out to be a horrible animal hater, but truth be told every now and then I can find a soft spot for them.

Our family has quite a track record with dogs: Shelley (grandma ran over), Sheba (mom ran over), Festus (sadly ran away or was stolen...we aren't sure), Rocky (disappeared - I'm quite certain that my dad took care of him, if you catch my drift), Princess (only had for 2 days because she died from rat poisoning from previous owner), Lizzy (hung herself -- poor thing tried to jump the fence and caught her collar on the fence), Noble (cancer), Barnes, Molly, and Lady.

Three is the number roaming throughout our homestead these days. Barnes is a big, old German Shepherd. He has been a faithful and trustworthy dog. He's also top dog around here and is not afraid to tell the other pups when they are acting up.

Lady is actually my brother's dog. She is a 2 year old Lab and is a big ball of energy. She came to stay one weekend while my brother was going to be out of town and she hasn't left yet. She has learned her place with Barnes as he lets her know when she's crossing a line. She has also slowly learned her lessons with my dad and his garden, water fountain, and boots! She still hasn't learned to leave the horse alone though. We are always certain to lock her up if we have Fannie out and about. It's better for all involved! :-)

Over the summer, I did come to have a soft spot for Lady. I spent at least 20 mins every day working with her fetching skills and by the end of the summer, every time I'd walk outside she would greet me with her ball. When I pulled into the driveway on Christmas Day the dogs were there at the car and as soon as Lady realized I was home, she ran to find her ball! Smart little thing!

And Molly is the in-house cocker spaniel. I also have a bit of a soft spot for her. She is my mom's anniversary gift from a few years back and she's a fun little dog to have in the house. The trick with her is don't touch her until she's warmed up to you or you'll be sure to have a puddle near your feet!

Anyways...the whole reason I was telling you this was because today, I decided to try and talk Lady on a walk. Sounds easy right? I call my dad to see if he thinks she will even do it and he said it was worth a shot! (I'm pretty sure he was sitting at his computer laughing at me knowing exactly how it would go!) So I get all ready and head out to get Lady on the lease and give this a go. After about 10 mins and a lot of chasing I finally got the lease on her. Then I realized I would need to lock up Barnes or he would want to come along also. Needless to say, he was not happy!

I start to walk Lady and we aren't even half-way down our gravel driveway and all she is doing is chewing on the lease and jumping on me. All the while we are listening to Barnes howl at the fact that he was left behind. So we turned around. I put Lady in the cage, hooked Barnes on the lease and off we went!

Barnes was great. He didn't bark even once and he had about 15 different dogs barking at him. I think I could get used to walking a dog, but apartment life will not allow for such things -- probably better that way!

Maybe tomorrow I'll try Lady again, but I'm not promising anything!

Miss Z

2010-12-27T10:01:00.006-06:00

I figured since I'm blogging again, I better update everyone on Miss Z.

Miss Z got a new little tricycle from Grandma and Bumpa. (I love that she calls my dad, Bumpa -- seriously the cutest thing) She loves that thing. We all took turns pushing her around the house, while she rang the little bell! It was the perfect ending to my very LONG, 12 hour drive home that day!

Z ended the Christmas season with 5 new babies! She loves them all but 1, the one that seems the most real! :-) She loves to rock them, feed them, change them. It's all so precious to watch. Her mom and dad are hopeful that this means she will be enjoy being a big sister come June!

This is a picture from a little earlier this fall. My family is in the process of rebuilding our family lumberyard which was destroyed in a fire this summer. (maybe another post will come about that!) My mom has been sending me weekly pictures of the progress. I love what this picture shows because I can just imagine my dad telling Z all she needs to know about the progress going on. I just love this!

Change

2010-12-26T22:48:00.005-06:00

Photo Credit

Every year I THINK about all of the things that I would like to change in the upcoming year, and yet nothing happens. I've come to the conclusion that one of the main reasons I never follow through is because I never write the resolutions down. Well that is about to change! :-)

1 ~ Become debt free. -- Dave Ramsey and I are becoming BFFs right now. I'm almost done listening to his book, "The Total Money Makeover" and my parents gave me the book for Christmas so now the real and HARD work begins. I'm excited about it because I want that worry and stress out of my life, but I know it will be a lot of hard work which makes me a wee bit nervous. But as Dave says, "To be like no one else, you have to live like no one else."

2 ~ Become healthy (aka lose weight) -- Who doesn't have this for a yearly goal???? Ask my friend Nicki, this is my mental goal nearly every year and yet nothing has changed, but this is the year! She has done it and looks amazing! It will be just as hard as becoming debt free, but I'm just as excited about it. I'm not sure how I plan to share it all yet, but I need to do it!

3 ~ Blog -- The previous two goals will not be easy and certainly not on my own. So I've decided to break down some walls and put this part of my life out there for all to see. This probably is the scariest part for me! I'm not really much of a sharer, but I think for these things to really happen I need to be held accountable.

So, there you have them blog world!

January 1, 2011 -- HERE I COME!

Sisters and More

2010-04-29T08:59:00.014-05:00

Jo, Jess, and I (Please, ignore my crooked necklace -- it bothers me too!)

This post has been on my mind for awhile. (School, work, busy weekend stuff just really slows me down!) Over the last few weeks, I've been running through my head the types of posts I want my blog to have. As we all know my blog hasn't exactly been very active for quite some time and the posts I've shared up to this point were only surface posts. They didn't dig down, they didn't expose who I really am. I believe there are multiple reasons for this 1 - lack of time/effort and 2 - I'm not someone who really share beyond the surface. Sure there are my few very close and dear friends that know the gritty details, and I by no means plan to share the grittiest of my details. (yet...) However, I think that for me I need to jump past my comfort of the surface and dive in deeper. Not for anyone else to know, but simply for myself.

This really all came home to me a few weeks ago. When I was home in March, I had the chance to get together with my brother, a classmate, and oddly, an ex-flame. It was all very last minute and I thought about pulling out the "It's too late, I better pass" card as a way to avoid what was surely going to be an awkward situation. However, my brother assured me it would be fun and off we went. We ended up having a great time. We talked and remembered and laughed. It was enjoyable. (Somewhere during the night, I made a comment about knowing lots of girls that think dark men are attractive -- case in point, Taye Diggs! Yes...please!) Fast forward to a few weeks. I get a text message from said ex-flame letting me know that he had asked a few others about the dark men (Taye Diggs) claim and he was not coming up with the same evidence. I, of course, assursed him he must not have mentioned Taye Diggs name or was asking too small of a group. Needless to say the next few text messages were something a long the lines of...I've learned more about you in this little detail then I've known. At first I laughed, then I cried. He was right! (Sadly...one does hate to admit such things!) I was the queen of being friendly and nice to others, but I was not great at sharing who I really was.

With all that said...I'd like to welcome you to what will hopefully be the first of many posts that dig deeper into my being and thought process. As a side note, this could get messy and scary, mostly for me, but maybe for all of you also! And as a disclaimer, I don't promise that I won't slip in a few "surface" posts every now and then. I really can't help it...it's just how I am!

Without further adieu - My Sisters

Jess

First off, is that not the cutest Senior picture of her? Jo and I love it, she isn't sold on it, but it's just so her. That's how cute she looks when she laughs. I think I just love how natural it is...quite different from my very stiff and rigid senior pictures, but that's not all that surprising!

I've been thinking about Jess a whole lot lately. This girl is a mere weeks away from being done with High School. You can tell that she is ready, but it's been so great to listen to this girl all year. She has grown up in so many ways. For those of you who know her, you know that she has a knack for bring funny. As much as I do hate to admit it, she knows how and when to be funny. She's also about as random as we Ohlmann's come. She could be singing and pretending to direct a choir song like Prof Reim one minute and then belting a head banging and screaming to Sweet Home Alabama the next. You're never quite sure what you're gonna get.

That is what I love about her. I love that she is random. I love that she laughs at herself. I love that she doesn't care who's watching or listening, she just does. These are the times that I look at her and think about how it just doesn't seem fair that I can't be even a little like her.

One of the ways that I've watched her really grow this year is in connection with her friends. Jess has been always good at making friends, but these year, I have watched her stretch herself. She has finally taken a chance on people she had written off for the last 3 years and oh how amazing it has been. It's fun to listen to her and how she goes on and on about how great these people are and how she wishes she would have given them a chance sooner. I think part of this comes with age and maturity, but what a great thing to see in her. It makes me look at my friends and value my closeness with some and makes me want to rekindle or build on what I have.

Out of everything, the way that Jess has grown in her leadership abilities is beyond my comprehension. It still stops me dead in my tracks when I hear her say, things about how she loves getting a chance to see the campers come to campus. Or how she has taken the stand-out freshman basketball player under her wings to protect her from being the one the team is jealous towards. How great it is to see the Lord continue to fashion and mold these gifts in her.

Jo and baby Cooper

My sister, Jo, has always been the sweet, little sister who would do anything for anyone. But more than that she is the sister that never fails. You can count on her. I know that if I call her, she will call me back as soon as she's able. (Jess...not so much, but her live is quite hectic!)

One of the things that I love about Jo is ability to just be. She doesn't have to be the center of attention, she doesn't have to have a comment for everything, she doesn't have to be funny, she's just there. And more often than not, it's exactly what you need. She's the one that will give you a hug or even just sit with you when you need it. Her quiet and protective presence is all that you need for her. And what I love is that she doesn't give off the need to say anything. She doesn't make the quiet time see awkward, instead it feels right. Oh for a gift like that!

I think Jo would agree that this has been the hardest year of her life. Going to Immanuel was uber difficult for her. She would call me daily for the first month and just cry. Slowly it turned to a few times a week, then weekly, monthly, and now it's gone. I can still remember her at Christmas break...she was only a week into her 3 week break and she was ready to go back!! I couldn't believe it. Change is hard for Jo, but I love the determination that she shows. I, also, love that she isn't afraid to show that it hurts. I was homesick for much of my first months at school, but I did all I could to never show it! (Hmm...not much has changed)

The Lord has blessed me with two great sisters! I love how different we all are and yet how we just know each other so well. I can't wait to continue to grow with each of them and see our lives develop! God is great!

Back in Action

2010-04-15T15:36:00.003-05:00

Please excuse my hiatus! It seems as though life has gotten in my way, but I'm going to try and get back into a good routine again. Plus, now that my dear friend has moved back to God's Country and I will hardly ever see her, I thought I should pick this back up again as a way to try and keep in touch.

Much has happened in these last 8 months. My last post spoke about the first day of school and I am just over a month away from being done with my first year of teaching! Time really does fly! Over the next few posts I will try and give a brief recap of what I've been up to since I've been away.

For now, I will leave you with the most recent picture of my dear, sweet niece, Z. Oh how I miss that I am not there watching her grow up. Although I do love listening to my dad go on and on about how cute she is and all of the things she does now. I'm not sure there has been a prouder grandpa! :-)

--
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

And So It Begins....

2009-09-01T17:30:00.002-05:00

School offically started today! Even though I have been spending 8+ hours at school for the last month or longer, today it all started -- the teaching part that is.

What a day it was!?!? I thought I was ready, but on man...who knew only teaching 2 students would be so hard. It seemed like there would be this empty air in the room, so I did a lot of talking. So much that even after 60+ oz of water, my voice is still very sore and scratchy!

Anyone else get their first look at school today?

Here She Is...

2009-08-21T19:33:00.003-05:00

Baby Z Joy
9lbs 11oz
20 1/2 in long
Precious!
Beautiful!!

Arrived...

2009-08-21T07:52:00.004-05:00

Baby arrived last night at 11:08pm. My mom, sisters, and I were just on our way home from seeing "The Proposal" (Oh heavens...what a great movie!!!) when we all received a little picture text message from my brother.

Being a typical guy, all it said was "Our Baby." Don't get me wrong it was sweet, but no name, no weight, no length. So we texted back for more info. Here's what we got: Name - Zoei Joy. Weight - didn't know. Length - didn't know.

Well, I think Jake might have been just a little flustered because he did have the name right, but he told us the wrong spelling. :-) So here you go...the finally results.

Name: Zoey Joy
Weight: 9 lbs. 11 oz.
Length: 20 1/2 in

So there you have it. My sisters and I are heading to their house to do some "Welcome Home" cleaning, decorating, cooking. Then we'll head to the hospital to see the peanut. Pretty excited!!

Oh...I will post pics after visiting later!!

Growing Old

2009-08-19T16:31:00.002-05:00

Today I had the priviledge of going to a nearby nursing home to help run the "Barnyard Olympics" for the residents. Oh yes, this was as exciting as it sounds! They threw cow chips, played horseshoes, shucked corn...they only thing missing was a good old fashioned hoe-down!

What I realized today is that I don't EVER want to become old. It breaks my heart to look at this people. The one guy, Jack, used to be a dentist!! A DENTIST. Now he just sits there and has to be woken up when it's his turn. Or Trudy, she was eating a banana when she first got in the room. She was finished so Pastor B took the peel from her and threw it away. 20 mins later, her hands were in the same position (as if she were still holding the banana) and she asked the Director to take the peel from her hands! It took the Director 5 mins to convince her that her hands were already empty.

It really scared me. My best friend, Steph, has always said she never wanted to get old. I always just kind of laughed at her because it never seemed that bad to me. UNTIL today...WOW! I really pray that Judgement Day comes before I'm old or that the Lord takes me home. Death doesn't scare me, being old does. Is that weird???

Steph, if you're reading this, I am sorry for ever laughing about such a thing!

(On a slighty happy note, one of the ladies, Donna, was an absolute SWEETHEART!! She was dressed so beautifully and she must have thanked me about 20 times for coming. I did get a good laugh from Vivian. She did one mean victory dance after scoring 6 goals in Piggy Hockey!)

Baby Niece Update

2009-08-19T16:20:00.003-05:00

So here's the deal:

Tomorrow morning,
bright and early,
I will begin my trek home.

Because tomorrow
Valentine, NE --
which has a
current population of 2,860
will increase by 1.

That's right ONE.
One beautiful,
and I'm quite postive,
PERFECT little girl.

The doctor declared
that it is time for
this little sweet pea
to make her debut.

So I will drive,
not too fast,
I don't want a ticket,
but with intent.

Because I'm beyond
elated to meet this
sweet, little girl!

Tonight, as you
say your prayers.
Please pray for Dani, Jake,
baby, and a safe delivery.

WHO'S EXCITED!?!?!?!

Weekend Recap

2009-08-16T18:20:00.007-05:00

(Isn't this the cutest little bird feeder???)

Since being a teacher does mean I have all summer off, I am enjoying being able to just take off during the week and go and hang out with family. That's exactly what I did this week.

On Wednesday afternoon, after a full day of working at school, I met my Aunt Candy over at the Scholastic book fair. (Yes, I went twice...books are a great thing!) After a little browsing over there we headed over to her house in Markesan. Candy has been traveling away from home ALL summer...she literally goes home for a day and then packs up for the next trip. SO...we got the laundry caught up and just hung out around the house.

Thursday morning, we packed up and headed over to meet the Naumann's at a cottage they had rented on Lake Ellen near Cascade, WI. (I couldn't ever get back there again without the help of our "lady" (GPS)...what did we do before Mapquest and GPS???)It was the cutest little cottage. Quaint, quiet, calm. The perfect setting for a much needed getaway.

That night the boys were all away, so it was a nice girl's only evening. (Candy, Desi, Becca, and I) We made a wonderful supper of pork chops. Most likely the best pork chops I've had in quite some time. We even figured out how to start the charcoal grill on our own. We had wine and of course chocolate...a staple for any event with my Aunt Desi!

Then the fun really began...we decided to try and take the pontoon for a spin! OH MY! I haven't laughed that hard in quite some time. We did manage to unhook it from the dock and it was running, but we didn't go far. In fact, we called it a boat float instead of a boat ride. We ditched the idea and decided we would wait for the boys to come back the next day for our boat ride! I'm sure the neighbors were all entertained! Sadly...I was laughing too hard to get any pictures of this wonderful experience! Just use your imagination!

We finished the night off with some rousing games of Shoot the Moon and Phase 10.

Friday morning, we slept in and lazed around for a bit before getting ready and heading into town to see the cute little shops. We found just a darling little cafe with sandwichs and salads to die for. It was just the cutest little place. The next place was packed full of things. I did find quite possibly the creepiest Santa Clause figure I have ever seen. (Sadly the pic is on my phone!) The best buy was my new Rain Stick. I'm so excited to have one for my classroom!

When we returned from our excursion in town, the boys were back. Desi and I went for an afternoon kayak ride around the lake. (Something we could easily handle!) Ben even got Candy to go out on the paddle boat. There was much fishing off the dock taking place. Sam even caught a pretty nice Northern. But this little guy was my favorite....sadly though he swallowed the hook and when they released him, he simply floated to the bottom! Poor guy!

After supper, we did get to go on a nice pontoon ride. We even stopped for awhile and fished. The boys were pulling in quite a few fish. We played more card games and then finished up the night watching "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." What a hoot!

Saturday morning we got up and Candy and I headed down to Milwaukee for a quick run to Northwestern Publishing House. As soon as we got back to Markesan, I took off for home. Boy...was I tired last night. But I had a great time!

(Ben eating his cereal...I thought it was quite creative!)

Today I made a nice lunch and then headed over to school to try and get a whole list of things accomplished. The list is still quite long, but I'm going to call it a night!

Hope everyone had a blessed weekend!

Here is the shutterfly link to the rest of the pictures from the weekend!

Missing Out

2009-08-11T19:09:00.003-05:00

Every year there is one summer event that I truly look foward to. The Arise and Shine/20s and 30s Retreat. This is weekend, although hot, humid, and sticky, is such a blast of much needed refreshment and refocus.

Sadly...this year I had to miss out. With all of the moving and planning for the new school year, I thought it was still going to work out just fine. Until low and behold, I had a training that I had to be at for school, PLUS it was VBS this week at our church. I just couldn't justify leaving to go and then missing these things. It was tough. A tough decision, even on Thursday morning I was still thinking about just packing up and going, and it was super tough to be here in Wisconsin (where it also was very hot, humid, and sticky) knowing what I was missing down there.

Instead of St. Louis, I traveled over to my grandparent's house for the weekend. I had a great time hanging out with them, but am still sad I missed out. The perils of growing up!

In conclusion, the theme was "Be Ready..." based on the passage from 1 Peter 3:15. From the reports back it was a great weekend and lots of great speakers once again.

8:30pm

2009-08-10T20:38:00.002-05:00

Dark.
PITCH DARK
And it's only 8:30pm.
Reason 127 why I miss Nebraska.
Why do I live here again?

Books...books...books....

2009-08-09T22:45:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow morning I am going to try to find the Scholastic wearhouse in Windsor. (I've been told that near Waunakee...thank goodness for GPS!) I just found out about this great sale for educators is being held next week which includes saving between 50%-80% on each and every book. The sweet woman who told me about it said you can get books for $1!!! I'm pretty excited.

In the spirit of being excited to go and look at books...I thought I would share with everyone some of my favorite books.

As a child, one of my all time favorite books was "Three Little Kittens." My Grandma Ohlmann always says that when my parents went to the hospital to Jake and I spent the few days at their house that was the one book they had to read over and over and over again. They really did love me because I can only imagine how annoying that book was after the first 5 times.

One of my all time favorite books in grade school was "No Flying in the House." Miss Greve, now Mrs. Abbott, would read that book aloud and it was always one that I just loved and looked forward too.

I just finished reading the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series....and I that was a great series, however I think my favorite series is the Janette Oke "Love COmes Softly" series. I know they are a bit cheesy and predicatable, but something about the truthfulness in them just makes me happy.

I did read a great book this summer. "Love Finds You in Valentine, NE." I'm not even kidding it is a book and a great one at that. It was so fun to read a book that takes place in/near Valentine. It was a nice way to think back on Valentine and remember why I love it.

What are your favorite books?

10 Reasons Why I Am Writing...

2009-08-08T21:24:00.002-05:00

Thought it might be a good idea to write out the reasons why I am writing...I have a feeling this will be harder than it sounds!

1 - To share my faith.
2 - To keep in touch with my friends and family as I begin my teaching career in Madison
3 - To give myself an outlet to just write when I need to release
4 - To have a place to share cool finds
5 - To have a place to write down dreams
6 - To have a place to write down my goals and have people to help keep my accountable.
7 - To use a journal to chronicle this new journey in my life....living in Madison should be some good stories...
8 - To share funny teaching stories - kids really do say that funniest things!
9 - To find myself
10 - To become better at sharing my thoughts and feelings...

So those are a few of the reasons why I started this blog and why I'm trying to get back into again.

Movie Review: Julie and Julia

2009-08-08T21:14:00.003-05:00

Fantastic.

1 - Meryl Streep...perfect person for the role. She did a great job!
2 - LOVE LOVE LOVE Amy Adams.
3 - Julie's husband, Chris Messina, was such a cutie in this film.

This was just a fun movie. I loved the vintage look in the kitchens. I even learned how to poach an egg! For anyone looking for a fun afternoon show...I highly recommend this show.

ENJOY!

Scariest Experience

2009-08-08T00:20:00.003-05:00

I just found this great website: Imagination Prompt Generator. It gives you a prompt to write on. It sounds a little pathetic, as you would think I could find plenty to talk about, but it's 12:25am and I don't function well, but I'm determined to post something! :-) So here goes!

Prompt: What's the scariest experience you've ever had?

This took a little time to think about, but I think without a doubt the scariest moment I can think back to is the summer afternoon about 4 years ago.

It was a normal Sunday afternoon. Kendra had come to visit us at 1st Ave and we had just had a great time hanging out. THEN my phone rang. It was my brother calling from NE and he wanted to find out if there was anything valuable he could get from the Ahrens' house (Ahrens were out of town) because they thought the FIRE would come over by us. I just remember being so confused and then he explained that there was a BIG fire down in the City Park of the town of grew up in and it was headed towards our side of town which meant the Ahrens' house and ultimately my house.

It was the some of the scariest hours of my life. My dad wasn't in town, he was gone at some Neil Young concert AND I was stuck in EC and couldn't do anything to help. I remember Kendra, Steph, and I just sitting on my bed hugging, crying because we didn't know the extent of anything going on in our childhood hometown.

The fire did not come by our homes, but it did destroy quite a few. The park -- gone. Looking back, I am so thankful my dad WASN'T in town or he would have been in the middle of fighting that fire and that scares me more. It was hard to not be there during such devesation, but a blessing to look back and know that at that point I'm not sure I would have been much help.

Pic found here.

What's your scariest experience?

Back in Action

2009-08-08T00:15:00.002-05:00

Yes that is correct...this little blog is back in action. I am ready to get this thing rolling again. I already know it will be a slow start, but a start is something!

Oh...and Steph...this is all for you!

Color Junction

2009-01-26T23:20:00.004-06:00

If you get a chance...hop on to your igoogle account and add "Color Junction" to your front page. I promise, you won't be let down! This is how I spent my 15 mins breaks at work every day. And today...I finally won!!!! I even took a screen shot of my victory and sent it off to the co-worker who get me addicted. Thanks Paul!

Mediative Monday....Prayer

2009-01-26T23:08:00.003-06:00

Prayer has been on my mind a lot lately. Prayer is something I've been doing a lot of while I continue to delibrate on this call.

On Sunday, I was talking with my group of 5th and 6th grade Sunday Schoolers about prayer. We were talking about the different ways God answers our prayers. "No", "Yes", "Not Now." "Not Now" is the one that always amazes me. Going back to this call stuff...just last fall I found myself constantly praying for a call...and now I can look back and know...His answer was not right now.

Isn't it comforting to look back and see how many times God does answer our prayers with..."not right now." I'm glad that He knows what I need when, because obviously...I don't!!

Call Info

2009-01-25T23:10:00.003-06:00

Thought I would share some additional information on this call to Middleton.

The call is to teach in their one-room school. There will be 2 children next year. A 5th grade boy and an 8th grade girl. Even though it is a small small school, this is not a one year call. This to me speaks volumes about this congregation. They are committed to this school and what a blessing that they recognize the importance of the "one thing needful." They use the Abeka curriculum....which I am more than okay with because it's what I grew up with and I am more than comfortable with teaching from it...but I also know the downside of the curriculum and am aware of where I need to add or subtract.

Other than that, I don't know what else to share. Still actively praying and processing. All prayers you can send up in my behalf...greatly appreciated.

Unexpected Calls...

2009-01-25T22:40:00.003-06:00

Exactly one week ago, I received a very unexpected call. On a Sunday afternoon, as I was crawled up on my bed taking my Sunday nap, the phone rang. I rolled over, managed to open one eye, to see it was a number I didn't know. Since I was sleeping, I silenced it hoping they'd just leave a message, which he did. Because I'm not a fan of suspense, I figured I'd listen to the message, go back to sleep, and just deal with it later. Password entered, option 1 entered for new message....Pastor Bernthal's voice....END pressed. I didn't even finish the message, but I sat up real fast and knew without a doubt, he was calling me about a divine call.

Not sure what kind of emotions were all running through me at that point, but I knew I had to call him back right away...and I also knew I had been sleeping for the last hour and probably sounded like it. So...I did what every normal person would do :-) I talked to myself...okay so it was more like convincing myself to call him back right away and at the same time getting my voice back to normal.

I did it. I called him. And I was right. At their voter's meeting that afternoon, they had been led to extend a call to me to serve as teacher in their grade school.

The rest of the night was filled with calling all of my family....after 23 years in the CLC, you know how fast that information spreads and this was something I wanted them to hear from me, not through the grapevine. It was a night full of emotions, talking to all my family, and trying to really process this news.

And now...here I am...one week later, still processing and most importantly praying.

My dear mom has called me at least once every day to talk about furniture and decor. It was overwhelming at first, now I know it's just her way of showing me how excited she is for me.

But mostly, I just sit here and think about how unexpected this all has been. One week ago, I was talking about where I was going to live next year. Now I am thinking about Middleton and the possibilities there.

Unexpected usually scares me, but right now...I'm enjoying unexpected...

Worthy Is the Lamb

2008-12-18T01:20:00.001-06:00

I'm Back....

2008-12-09T20:08:00.003-06:00

After being away for almost a whole semester...I'm coming back and I have big plans to finally stick this thing out. I really enjoy reading through everyones blogs, so now it's time I finally keep mine up and running!!

I'm looking forward to sharing some of my insight on life inside the girl's dorm! Oh yes...the stories that come from those walls are many times amazing!! Also hoping to add a Mediatative Monday post! Anyways...let's just see how long the fun will last!!

Heading to the City...

2008-08-21T20:00:00.002-05:00

My bags are yet to be packed, but I am very much looking forward to my departure for Milwaukee this weekend. This is my first time back to the big city since I finished student teaching in March! I'm looking forward to seeing my family, hanging out with the Mielke's, and recalling all of the reasons why I would move to Milwaukee in a heart beat...just need a good job and a place to live!

After the trip to Milwaukee, we are heading up to Fond du Lac for a surprise 40th birthday party for my Aunt Trisha! I'm hoping we can still pull this off...so far so good!

After Fondy, it's back to the Eau C to unload my brother and sister, get them settled back into the dorms, and kick off the school year! Can't believe it's here already, but I'm ready! (Only cuz' I don't have to go back)

What are you plans for the weekend?

Moments of Glory

2008-08-16T10:25:00.003-05:00

Nastia winning the Gold in the Women's All-Around.

Phelps winning his 7th GOLD by 1/100 of a second!

What will I do when they are all over??

Crazy Night Life

2008-08-14T09:31:00.005-05:00

Oh how I love my new night life! I'm not exactly sure how I will be able to cope once the Olympics are over, because as of right now, they are my life! I wake up and turn on whatever crazy sport is showing at 8:00am. So far my favorite to watch has been Women's Water Polo with Table Tennis a close second. I watch the Olympics as I workout. So far the many sport that is on during that time is basketball. But I did catch a little Grecco-Roman Wrestling yesterday too! I watch them as I get ready for work. Sadly, I take about a 9 hour break as I head into work for the day....but I love when 9:00pm rolls around because I know that in a mere 30 mins I will be back home, crawled up on my bed, watching amazing things such as Gymnastics and the greatest happenings in the Water Cube! Ahhh...the great life! Are the Olympics changing your life?

I will miss the Olympics when they are over, but I will also enjoy having my sleep back!

Conquered in Christ

2008-08-10T16:25:00.004-05:00

Romans 8:31-39 "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

It's hard to believe that one week ago, Steph, Nicki, and I were packed in the car traveling back to Wisconsin debriefing about the weekend. What a weekend it was! This weekend is only that I look forward to each year because I come back with this renewed and refreshed air about me and I'm excited and anxious to put into work the many things I've learned. Just as I hoped, this year was exactly the same...only better than I could have expected. I went anxious for my dear friend's to share with all of my friends the insight they have gained through the many trials they have faced in their lives. But what I got was an even greater appreciation for my friends. If anyone has not had the chance to meet Dave and Becky Rodebaugh...DO IT! Their story makes me cry, makes me smile, and gives me hope for all the trials that I face. I think back to my life only 8 months ago and Dave and Becky were merly a name that I knew because of the children at Immanuel. Now I can't even imagine who I was without them. They are two people that I will always look up to and respect. What a blessing it is to have them in my life!

If anyone is ever thinking about Arise and Shine and just not sure...GO!! It is worth every minute of your time. I promise you will not regret it!

100 things to do before I die

2008-02-23T17:45:00.004-06:00

Swim with a dolphin
Watch a live Figure Skating competition (famous skaters)
Be a member of the audience in a TV show
Send a message in a bottle
Plant a tree
Write a fan letter to Mr. Dreamy
Learn to ballroom dance
Fall deeply in love – helplessly and unconditionally with my Lord
Shower in a waterfall
Learn to play the violin
Get passionate about a cause and spent time helping it, instead of just thinking about it
Go on Mission Helper Trip
Ask someone you’ve just met on a date.
Sleep under the stars
Spend a whole day reading, while snuggled up in a warm blanket.
Overcome my fear of failure
Grow and tend a garden
Drive a convertible with the top down and music blaring.
Run a 5k.
Run a half-marathon
Fall in Love
Watch all of the Oscar winning movies
Have an earth-shattering, foot popping kiss
Play in the rain
Visit the 9-11 site
Wear a rain coat and galoshes in the rain.
Blindly pick a place on a map and plan visit
Go to the Creation Museum
Be outside for a whole day
Host a wine tasting party
Write a letter about myself NOW for my future grandchildren
Learn to change a tire
Greet a new neighbor with baked goods
Ride a bicycle built for two
Drink wine while taking a hot bubble bath and rockin’ out to the song from “Pretty Woman.”
Fall in love with Walt Whitman poetry
Wear a flower in my hair all day
Stay up all night talking to someone
Get a master’s degree
Ride in a horse-drawn carriage
Ride a mechanical bull
See the Pearl Harbor memorial
Learn how to drive stick shift
Bury a time capsule
Dance in a gazebo while listening to “The Sound of Music”
Learn to say “No” without guilt
Give birth naturally
Stop worrying about things that have already happened and that I can’t change.
Inspire a child
Go on cruise
Have a movie marathon
Make breakfast in bed for someone I love
Be an organ donor (4/24/08)
Eat spaghetti like the Lady and the Tramp
Be free from debt
Visit all 50 states
Nap in the grass
Go to Australia
Stay at a cottage by the sea
Have a family
Smoke a real Cuban cigar (6/27/08)
Donate blood
See a show on Broadway
Adopt a child
Eat a meal good enough to be my last
Become physically Fit
Exercise daily
Eat Healthy
Learn the entire dance from evolution of dance
Make someone cry of happiness
Buy my own car (6/27/08)
Buy a house
Write my mission statement
Hit a home run
Take a road trip with friends
Do 100 push ups in a row
Do at least one pull up
Learn the Alphabet backwards
Ride in a helicopter
Learn how to ice skate without falling on my butt
Write a love letter
Live without tv for a month
Become a lifeguard
Read the entire Bible
Send flowers to a friend (8/5/08)
Tell my parents how much I love them and what they mean to me
Spend a day with my sisters
Write a children’s book
See the giant Christmas tree in Times Square
See “Ellen” LIVE
Visit the Smithsonian
Be a mom.
Be a wife.
Take culinary classes
Stay best friends with Steph and Nicki
Be serenaded on a gondola
Write a song about someone I love
Yell "Bingo" at a Bingo hall
Take a child on a toy shopping spree
Host a cooking show