My Mom and Dad are amazing. I love them so much! The above pictures are testaments to their servants hearts for those around them. This particular weekend they brought gear all the way up from Iowa to help us with some yard work. My mom always looks for ways to love us through gifts or acts of service, and my dad shows us love by spending time and being patient. (both show love MANY other ways, but this is what stood out to me this trip).
I've learned so much from my God-fearing parents, who are committed to each other (and their family) through thick and thin, who always put others before themselves, who are down-to-earth and always up for anything.
Ten days ago Charlie and I got to go to Waterloo to celebrate my years as a human. (not that I've had years being anything else...) I guess I should say to celebrate my birthday. Let me break it down for you: (Amanda)You have been living for 29 years, 0 months, and10 days. Your age in months - 348 months Your age in weeks - 1514 weeks Your age in days - 10602 days Your age in hours - 254448 hours Your age in minutes - 15266880 minutes Your age in seconds - 916012800 seconds You've seen 8 leap years. We also enjoyed dressing up to go get CANDY CANDY CANDY with our little nieces and nephew!
Main Entry: de·hy·drate Pronunciation: \(ˌ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt\ Function: verb, transitive verb 1 a : to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water b : to remove water from. (our house!!!)
Soooo, I had a little surprise waiting for me upon my arrival home Thursday afternoon. I tell ya- I wasn't gone for no more than four hours and our house began to turn into a swimming pool! Yes, that's right, the little flexible tube that connects the toilet tank to the wall (pipe) sprang a leak in the valve sprayed about 4 feet constantly for a good long while. Enough to flood that upstairs bathroom, the hallway outside it and just into the rooms connecting to the hallway. Then as it continued to spray it filled the ceiling in the bathroom, hallway, and family room below on the lower level. And didn't stop there- it filled the walls, the floor to standing water and finally down in to the basement level and into the drain in the floor. Completely ruining our new paint work, all our carpeting, vanity(s), sub flooring, trim, doors, and baseboards.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, we've been gutted. We get to do a $50,000.00 + unwanted remodel. :-) BUT we're thankful that 1. it was not sewage water! YAY! 2. it happened BEFORE we went out of town for the weekend (could you imagine what it would've been like if we were gone and found it after 3 whole days!!?!?! YIKES). God was good to us. Our insurance will foot the bill. We'll be staying in a hotel (thank you state farm!) until they at least finish the upstairs portion and get that carpeted.
Here are a few pictures of our fun. If ya think of it, just pray that we could get things repaired really quickly, so this project doesn't drag on for weeks and weeks (like what usually happens with builders). We'd really like to have it wrapped up within a month. (is that crazy?)
A dear friend ( Pattio :o) ) has been talking with me about what she's been learning about prayer in her personal study. It's been so sweet and refreshing to be reminded of what an AMAZING Father I have. She shared this amazing sermon link with me by Tim Keller. (just 30 minutes) I think it's part of series on the Lords prayer.
About 3/4 of the way through, at the part about the father and daughter in the toy store and he related to the story of Eve and the trees in the garden, really struck home. It's an example I've heard twice in three days. Satan made Eve think/act: "Because you won't give me this one thing you won't give me anything". Sin happened when Eve focused on what she couldn't have (JUST ONE little tree- she'd been given EVERYTHING! but that). It's an adoration problem: "because God won't give me everything, that just proves he doesn't want me to have anything" - LIE- Satan has distorted my thinking. It's a matter of trust that He has my best in mind. I must fill my prayers with adoration and praise!
Adoration- turning my thoughts to Him and what He HAS given me will change my view of my current situation (petition). Adoration will heal my sinful heart. (because it changes my hearts focus to GOD).
Praise must be at the gate of my heart, the first to overflow, saturate and dominate when I talk to my God! I must pray only because I adore my GOD. What I choose to pray about reveals what my heart hallows.
All of this has spoke to my heart in relation to what happened this summer. I must honestly say that I have questioned God's love for me many times; because he took our son, Bennett Torger, away from us. But in reality, (and I hope I can feel this in more and more real ways in the future), He took Bennett to be with Him because He loves me (us). I don't fully understand that kind of love, but I know it's true. I want to be thankful now for the things I do have and the gifts He has bestowed on us! He has saved me from eternal wrath, has has given me PRECIOUS family and friend, and a husband who loves and cares for me dearly. He's provided for my every physical need, and my list could go on.
Thank you Patty. My heart needed this. I'm humbled. I want to PRAISE MORE!!!
...and on that note: (little long- but WORTH IT! I wanna follow Hannah's example! :-) I wanna parent like these guys!
We were so blessed to have a suddenly beautiful fall day (a change from our 30-40 degree, rainy, snowy weather). These are the words that come to mind about that day: sunny, crisply warm, autumn, orange, yellow, friends, family, fun, kids, couples, together, relaxing, creative, silly, trees, gratefulness. We'll definitely have to do this again. We enjoyed carving and paintings and chatting with ya'll!Us and our little Penelopie Pumpkin 2009
If you'd like to see some more photo's of our fall pumpkin party go here.
Two weekends ago we got to go to Des Moines to celebrate our nephew's (Elliott) third birthday. They held the party at a place like Chuckie Cheese's- we ALL had a blast. -those games can be really addicting (the ones where you win tickets...) yeah- are we trying to get our kids addicted to gambling!??! (LOL- it was so fun though!). Silly faces with the birthday boy! (oh by the way, Elliott addresses me (manda) as "Unca-Manda" Not sure if that's because he likes Charlie better and wishes he were with him...or if Aunty-Manda is too tough to get out???) So happy to spend this season with the love of my life.
Fall is definitely and undoubtedly here in Plymouth. In fact, it may have already been here and left- and it may be winter... I think we're well over 3" of snow this month. CRAZY! It's OCTOBER! This weekend promises to be warmer and more sun filled, that's encouraging. I hope it is warmer and dry and sunny 'cuz we're having a big fall pumpkin carving/decorating party at our house this Saturday afternoon. If you're in the area be sure to come decorate with us, bring a friend! I'll post pictures of the party next week.
This is our little pumpkin I decorated:
tip: to create a pumpkin like this for yourself, use a knife to peel away or slice away the pumpkin's top layer of skin. I enjoyed doing this more than carving and found I could be more intricate too!
My family comes tonight to visit for a few days! YAY!
Ok, so I KNOW some of you guys out there are fabulously creative. For about a month now I've had this little crafty-sewy-makey type bug. I'm all inspired to make Christmas presents, and other fun gifts... my only stipulation is that it not look COMPLETELY "home-made" -if you know what I mean. I'd TOTALLY love to hear about any classy gift-making idea's you may have. Comment about it, comment a link about it, or whatever.
One idea I've run across lately (haven't tried it) is felting- but I'm not real sure how to do it, or what these darling littlewool/felt ballsare for. I suppose they'd be good for moms with little boys (or young children) who like balls in the house... plus I guess they bounce!?!
Now's a good time to start thinking about making Christmas presents, of begin shopping to avoid the last minute Christmas panic!
My Mom and Dad are amazing. I love them so much! The above pictures are testaments to their servants hearts for those around them. This particular weekend they brought gear all the way up from Iowa to help us with some yard work. My mom always looks for ways to love us through gifts or acts of service, and my dad shows us love by spending time and being patient. (both show love MANY other ways, but this is what stood out to me this trip).
