New Life with the Youth Group

Last month I went with Jake's youth group from Anderson First UMC to New Life International in Underwood, IN. This has become an annual trip, and something I always look forward to. This year was extra exciting because we helped with the assembly of a new controller that will make the whole system more automated, and also easier to provide clean water to larger groups of people.  Lucky for us, we had its creator, Dave, with us! :) It was amazing to see how technical the inner workings of the controller were (assembling them is definitely not my forte), but even more amazing to see how God cleared a path for Dave to come to New Life International. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Of course it's always fun to visit with all of my New Life friends for a weekend as well. I came back inspired and thankful. As usual, such a great weekend!

Bits and Pieces

Meeting Donald Miller / Hula hoopin' at Target

Interesting food at Jungle Jim's

Shopping with sister in Lafayette / Gourmet at IKEA with Linds and Van

MMTB concert in Anderson / Leo at the Glasgo house

Jake's 28th Birthday

Jake's birthday was this past week! The big 2-8. Gosh, we are inching toward 30, aren't we? Can't believe it. We took full advantage of Jake's birthday being on a weekend this year. Our families from New Albany, Guilford, Lafayette, and even Farmersville, OH braved the ice and snow to celebrate with us.  It was just awesome to have them all in Morristown. We went old school with a hot dog bar and picnic staples for lunch (wishful thinking for warmer weather, I suppose?).

And the big surprise of the day...a PS4!

Happy birthday, husband! I can't think of a better person to do life with. You are my absolute favorite.

In honor of a never-ending winter...

Here's some perspective in the midst of the coldest, snowiest winter I can remember in a long time. I'm typing this during snow day number 10, I believe. I am fully enjoying living in this snow globe, but I am yearning to see my grass again soon. :)

When February rolls around I'll roll my eyes
Turn a cold shoulder to these even colder skies
And by the fire my heart it heaves a sigh
For the green grass waiting on the other side

It's always winter but never Christmas
It seems this curse just can't be lifted
Yet in the midst of all this ice and snow
Our hearts stay warm cause they are filled with hope

It'd be so nice to look out the window
And see the leaves on the trees begin to show
The birds would congregate and sing
A song of birth a song of newer things

The wind would calm and the sun would shine
I'd go outside and I'd squint my eyes
But for now I will simply just withdraw
Sit here and wish for this world to thaw

And everything it changed overnight
This dying world you brought it back to life
And deep inside I felt things
Shifting everything was melting
Away, oh away
And you gave us the most beautiful of days

Cause when it's always winter but never Christmas
Sometimes it feels like you're not with us
But deep inside our hearts we know
That you are here and we will not lose hope 

Relient K

Happy New Year! 2014 Edition

We gathered all of our bestest friends again this year for our annual New Year's Eve party to ring in 2014! We had friends and siblings coming in from hours away, and it is always so special to have everyone in one place. It's also a blast to see our friends from different parts of our lives starting to become friends themselves. Oh, and there were fun party hats. Can't forget about those.

Cheers to 2014!