arrived

Just wanting to write and let everyone know that we have arrived safely. We have been unpacking and working on our house, and that combined with the fact that we don't have Internet explains why I haven't blogged in a while. Hopefully our Internet will be installed this week, and I will be able to return to my regular blogging!

shopping!!!

Today my blog is mostly about shopping! After lunch with the Card family several of us ladies/girls went to the mall in Monroe. The main store that we wanted to go to was Target since I have gift cards for there from graduation, but on entering the mall we discovered this great clothing store called Steve and Barry's where everything in the store is $6.98! Trust me, it's dangerous to let me loose in there. I was trying on a pair of jeans and felt very, very short. The jeans were in a Short size and were still too long . . . like 2-3 inches too long. I guess I do officially fit into the category of vertically challenged people. :-)

My too long Short jeans. They don't look too long in the picture because I'm wearing 3 inch high hemp woven espadrilles. :-)

After Steve and Barry's we went to my mom's favorite store, Christopher and Banks. I found a couple of cute skirts, but didn't buy anything. Better for my wallet that way. :-)

Mom checking out a clearanced skirt.

Following Christopher and Banks, we went to a store similar to Bergners in Illinois. Boo and I decided to sit at the entrance and wait for mom and Mrs. Kay to shop. We were sitting in the shoe department and directly in front of us was a sloped mirror that let us see ourselves. I carry my camera with me almost all the time, so we easily kept ourselves (and all the other customers) entertained. We got quite a few interesting looks as people walked by, but who cares!?!?! We where having a blast! :-) After deciding we had taken enough pictures, we moved through the store to find Mom and Mrs. Kay. We discovered them near the 60% off clearance racks! Who would have guessed!

Secret!!!

She won't give me any candy for smiling!!!

"Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me? When will my reflection show who I am inside???"

This is when Boo realized that all the other customers were looking at us!

Aren't we beautiful!

We're practicing our pose for the "Find-the-Perfect-Model" contest we saw advertised!

Never leave herunattended with a camera! Thankfully it wasn't my day to watch her!

After all of that shopping, I still didn't get to shop at Target. I was too tired by the time I got there!!! :-)

That's all folks! "So Long, Farewell until the next post!" (to be sung to the tune from Sound of Music)

wedding day

Today started off wonderfully. I didn't get up until 9:30 am. After a hot, fluffy waffle, Mom, Boo, Nan, and I all went to check out some outlet stores. Definitely nothing super except for the Gap Outlet. They had some great sales. I got a skirt, dress, and two tops that would have originally been over $100, but I'm a cheapskate and didn't pay anything near that. Wasn't even a third! :-)

Mom, Boo, and Nan

Me with my Gap finds.

After an accidental tour of downtown Monroe, we found a Subway and took Chicken Terryaki subs home for lunch. I got to take a nap!!! It was so cool. That has not happened forever!

The wedding was this evening, and it was so beautiful! The flowergirl was absolutely adorable! My mom said she was experiencing deja vu watching the little flower girl walk down the aisle. Her mom had been my mom's flowergirl. I think our table had too much fun at the reception. The hall where the dinner was held had another party going on, and Blake, Boo, and I discussed signing the guest book on the other side. Don't worry; we didn't. :-)

Me practicing.

The Little Princess.

Us with Julionna.

Pretty wedding!

Sisters

Nanny and Papa

Boo, Blake, and me . . . I was sad, because I had to say goodbye to him until school starts!

michigan

Today we traveled to Michigan to play for some friends' wedding. We were twenty minutes late for the rehearsal due to a lot of construction! We are missing our viola due to her presence at camp but are getting along fairly well without her. The official wedding is not until tomorrow evening, so tomorrow we get a long anticipated day of rest!

The happy couple

Mom and "Aunt" Vicki

Aunt Vicki modeling her Goodwill prank dress.

Blake is starting a new trend. I kinda like the diagonally striped tie combined with the vertically striped shirt!

Me with some wonderful peanut-bitter ice cream cake!

Boo!

Really, we do work at these wedding!

Here we are improvising on a usually violin-viola duet.

Oh, I have a good story. Last night Nikki sent me an email that made me cry. In it she commented that "We just closed the page on our childhood chapters and now we are beginning a new chapter." That feeling of being 18 and an officially adult made me sad until today. I felt like my childhood chapters were still open. I went to McDonalds and ordered a Happy Meal and asked for a specific toy! :-) Maybe it's just the Neverland part of me that will never grow up!

And now, a great verse for the day (given to me by Nikki Marie!) --

Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.

moving day two

We finished packing our house today. Everything started off on a fun note with free (first time) motorcycle rides by some wonderful friends. I had never ridden a motorcycle before and have to say that I loved it!!! I'd go again in a heartbeat. They hung around for a while and joined other friends inside who were helping us load up the last few odds and ends and take out the huge load of trash. (I should have take a picture of all the stuff piled by the curb!) Everyone was wonderful help!

Tonight was my last night to be able to do the kids program. We played the all-time favorite game of, get this, kickball! :-) Devotion sharing time was wonderful and very encouraging. After church we said goodbye to a lot more people and then had a last prayer time in our house. It was a lot harder than that last sentence made it seem. Below are some pictures of my day.

"Miss" Kathy

I took a picture of our classroom from the exact same angle yesterday. Big difference today!!!

Sharing memories.

I've never actually seen this much of our attic walls until today!

My (sad) empty room.

Our living room minus everything that made it a living room.

And last of all, I was doing really well about not crying. I walked through the empty upstairs and stopped at each room to hear all the echoing memories. I got teary eyed but no tears spilled out. Then I went to the basement and started sobbing as I walked into the classroom. So many memories filled that room. Surprise parties, game nights, laughter (when school was supposed to be going on), and so much else. Funny how the seemingly least important room in a house could hold the best memories. Nanny gave me a big hug, and as I sobbed in her arms I looked up to see our doorpost and the tears came harder. Ever since we put the classroom into our basement everyone who has come to a party down there has measured themselves on the doorpost. We could never paint over it. I wish we could take it along . . .

moving day

We have officially emptied our house. All of the big stuff is gone; all the remains are little odds and ends. Our wonderful helpers started showing up around 3:30 this afternoon and didn't leave until after 9. Some wonderful ladies from church provided food for everyone helping us load. Our rooms that were piled with boxes and furniture now sit bare and "echoey." Below are a few pictures of the day.

One of the Big Yellow Trucks

Our basement stacked high.

Me actually working! I'm getting good with the "Tapers!"

Moving the piano. We (as in all the guys :-) only "dropped" it once.

The view out the back garage door.

The view out of the front door.

The kitchen minus our table, chairs, stove, microwave, fridge . . . etc.

My room looked sad enough with the bare furniture. Tomorrow I have to get the courage up to go see it completely empty.

Shannon taking a last look.

Me working really hard. I was "Superviser." :-)

goodbyes

This was my last Sunday at home. I promised myself that I wouldn't cry because I cried enough last week. That worked very well until our whole church family joined hands in a big circle to sing Blessed Be The Tie one last time. While looking around at my family of 16 years I started to cry. Each and everyone of them has a very special place in my heart and will be greatly missed. This is pretty much all that I have known. I'm not doubting God's plan for us; I am looking forward a new place, but that doesn't take away the sting that every "good-bye" leaves. I keep telling people, "I'm not saying goodbye only see you later!"

I'm thankful that I have a great God pulling me through this. He gave me a great verse,
John 12:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. God, as my Master, is leading me, and if I wish to be blessed by Him, I need to follow in His footsteps. His path is always the best, whether it is easy or not.