Reflections & Thankfulness

Since I actually have a spare minute to reflect, I'm going to.

I recently purchased an application for my iPhone called "Live Happy." The main purpose of the application is to help you become a happier person. One of the ways it suggested that I boost my happiness is to write and reflect on things I am thankful for. As I was showering, I began to think of just how thankful I am to have married the most amazing man of my dreams, Jeff. Even after 5 1/2 years of marriage, we are just as in love as the day we tied the knot, and every day we seem to fall even more into love and appreciation for each other. Don't get me wrong, there have been bumps along the way, but in the end I am thankful for those bumps because they have only brought us closer together.

I knew going into marriage at age 19 that the odds were against us. The divorce rate is extremely high, and even higher yet in young marriages. I especially knew it after hearing it and also reading things like this: "the divorce rate for couples under twenty is incredibly high ... rates are lowest for men and women who marry for the first time at age 28 or later." Now this post is not supposed to be about marriage and divorce, because each situation is unique. The point of this post is to reflect on my thankfulness for Jeff.

It was 4:55a.m. when the alarm clock starting going off this morning. Jeff jumps out of bed, gets dressed, walks out of our room and closes the door. Shortly after, I hear the clanging of dishes in the kitchen. I knew what this meant. Jeff was doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen before going to work! I dozed off to sleep, and about an hour and a half later, I heard Autumn wake up in the other room. I waited a couple minutes before rolling out of bed, and then I hear Jeff go into the kids' room to get Autumn and take care of her. I doze off another half an hour or more and when my alarm starts going off at 7:30, I get up because it's time to get Ethan ready for preschool. He was already awake! Jeff was cleaning the kitchen, taking care of both kids, AND making me breakfast while I slept in! Oh, how thankful I was to see the kitchen coming together as it had been an embarrassing disaster for 3 days straight!

Life is busy these days, Jeff's been trying to meet deadlines for the work on our new house plus working his regular hours, when he comes home all hours of the night, he is exhausted! Plus he has been filling in drumming at church, meaning his "free time" is getting filled with practicing and writing the beats to the songs. Not only that, but his car completely broke down this week and we spent an entire evening jumping and towing it and the next evening searching for a new work vehicle. We found one at 9p.m. Tuesday night at drove it home at 10p.m.! Totally an answer to prayer!!
And, I guess I'm a little exhausted myself...trying to play catch up from an extremely busy wedding season over the summer, taking care of the kids, working outside the home once in a while, running Ethan to preschool, getting in "packing mode" since we are moving in 3 weeks, and the nausea and exhaustion from being pregnant, amongst household chores! I know this is just a "season" and it will change soon. I call it "survival mode."

All this to say, it's good to take a moment to reflect on what's going on in life and to remember all the things we are thankful for. The wonderful thing is that this morning was not at all out of Jeff's character. It wasn't my birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, or any other holiday for that matter, it was just another day. And he does wonderful things like this often. To that I am very grateful.

It feels good to fit!!! And other life updates...

I must say that our move to Substance Church has been nothing short of perfect. It's so amazing when you find where you fit in the body of Christ. Yesterday, in church, I just kept thinking, I am soooo glad God brought us here. This feels so amazing. I feel like we are FINALLY on track and heading in the right direction! We're finally doing something right! Haha, but seriously, I am so thankful for finding Substance. It's really not about "church". At ALL. "...it's not about church services that make you feel good, where you have an ooey gooey worship experience with God..." (Pastor Peter Haas) "...it's about having fellowship with other Christian believers that can pray with you, lift you up, and hold you accountable...that's true church" (Sorry if I didn't quote that right) But, I agree.
The stats about having close Christian friends to do life with show how much more of a chance you'll have to stay on track with God, than someone who doesn't have close fellowship with believers (we're still in the process of finding some really close Christian married friends). Jeff met a lot of married guys at the Men's Retreat and I'm excited to go to the Women's Retreat at the end of October.
God is finally ACTUALLY a part of our life instead of just being some religious legalistic ritual that we take part in because it's what we've always done. That makes me excited! I just wanna jump and run around!
I highly recommend downloading the substance church podcast! I think the new one comes out every TUESDAY! Yesterday's message was awesome, and I just feel like we're finally getting fed spiritually! With stuff that is relevant to doing life!!! I hope it's the 2nd service podcast, that's the one we were at and it was really good. Subscribe to it. Listen to it.

Substance Church Podcast Page

Another AWESOME podcast is Renee Burt's homemaker's podcast!!! I still think her teachings at homemaker's are WONDERFUL (even though we don't physically attend LWCC anymore) for ANY girl, mother, or wife!!! You can download those from LWCC's website under small groups. I think one of my favorites from last fall is called: "Complain Train" It's great! You should listen to it!

What else in life is happening...
We just found out that the guy that "installed" our floral cooler did it completely wrong. In fact, DANGEROUSLY wrong! So wrong that if a city inspector came out, they'd give us 10 days to get it fixed or get out and condemn our house! Is that scary or what? So we need some prayer with that situation because it was one of our NEIGHBORS that tried to install it for us and he's become really rude in the process and has already been paid $2100 in full. He did everything wrong and might have even ruined the compressor. Talk about a headache! Nothing God can't help us with. We really don't want to become enemies with our neighbor, but paying that much money to possibly have ruined the cooler is not a good thing...I'm pretty frustrated about it! Which brings me to my next point...
GOD LEADS WITH PEACE!!! Over the last month or so Jeff and I have had a few experiences where we felt uneasy about a situation, like the cooler, and went with it anyway, it has not turned out good. I've definitely learned my lesson! We need to listen to the peace even when in the natural everything seems like it'd be fine, and then stuff happens. So, this just prepares us for things later in life. Listen to the peace in your heart, because the Holy Spirit leads with that peace and then it can prevent situations like the cooler one from happening!

What else is new...

I got a part time job in a flower shop as well as working on my business, (Prestigious Petals) the flower shop is called, "The Flower Shoppe" creative name, right? Haha, it'll be good experience though and I'm already learning new things. Some that are a little old fashioned and 80's looking, but some that will help me in my business. I'm excited for the Holiday season because I haven't done a lot of Holiday designs.

We all 3 started going to a Chiropractor...we all have spines that are not in line in the right way and Jeff's is actually starting to form arthritis (shown on x-rays) so we all 3 will be getting adjusted 3 times a week for the next 3 months to get it fixed and then once a week after that...(we setup a family plan) It's actually really amazing how when your spine is completely in line and none of the nerves are being crushed how much quicker your body can heal itself. People think that getting adjusted once a month or even once a year is enough, but it's not because it's like getting braces...you can't put braces on one day and then take them off the next day and expect your teeth to be straightened. It takes time. Then after you have braces, you get a retainer to retain the shape. Same thing with the spine. You need to retain the alignment by getting regular, maintaining adjustments...that's another story though.

I have a wedding this weekend...fall colors: orange, champagne, and hints of blue...that'll be really pretty.

We had a bbq last night and it was a great turnout! 14 people came! (8 of which were married couples! yay!) It was funny because as people left last night, the only people left were the married ones and we all sat around the bon fire and talked...we had...Jeff & I, Ryan & Alisha, Brian & Michelle, and Joseph & Moriah. It was really fun. I thought it was so cool that we finally have some married friends after 3 1/2 years of being married!!! But, we're going to get even more married friends from going to Substance and going to the married subgroup and all that. Yay!

Now I'm just having a nice Monday...Jeff and I found ourselves waking up at 9:30a.m. to Ethan talking in his room...either the alarm didn't go off or Jeff turned it off in his sleep! So, we had a late start to the day, but sometimes you just need a little rest.

Sometimes these update posts are a little boring, but I really just like to journal about life and look back to see where God is taking us...I recently had someone write on my "Wall" on facebook this, and it completely touched me, it was about one of my former posts. It inspired me to post.

"Hi Nicole, I think I told you about the upcoming book on Jeff's family. Today Candice sent me his birthday. But not where he was born. From about 3 this afternoon I have been updating material and looking at verious family si... Read Moretes to try to get a grasp on their lives. Having said that I went and looked at some of your blogs and started to cry. You really need to keep doing the blog thing it will touch people. Here is what I read. Last week I prayed with a girl in my group to receive the evidence of speaking in tongues and then this week I prayed with ANOTHER girl in my group to receive the gift of speaking in tongues! Last week was the FIRST time I'd ever prayed with anyone to receive tongues...I've done the salvation prayer with people, but never for speaking in tongues. If that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will! I'm so excited for these young girls to experience what tongues is all about!!!!!!!! That's when I realized how on fire for Christ you are. I truely was touched!"

It's just cool to hear comments like that from other people.

We had one of our last boat charters of the season on Saturday night...and we might not work on the boats next summer...so we took some fun pics...enjoy!

I love working with Jeff. Do you like our uniforms?
Who knew you could make $30 an hour while being with your best friend?!?!?














We're having so much fun















Can you find Jeff in this picture???














Today is the first day of Autumn! I love the Fall! I say that Summer is my favorite season and then Fall is my 2nd favorite! I love it. I love sweater weather and the cool air and the changing of the tree leaf colors. It's so wonderful. I hope everyone has a perfect Autumn day!

(Ethan and I outside today on the first day of Autumn)
He's reaching for his nuk! (It's hard to get rid of that thing!)

Tribute to "Quail Man"

Goodbye, Quail Man...

Well, 2 days ago, Ethan goes up to the fish tank in his room and says, "Pish, pish" (Fish) But Fish (Quail Man) was laying on the bottom, dead. My heart kinda sank. Jeff got "Quail Man" (That's what Jill and I named him because he traveled from Jeff's parents house to where we live on Quail Avenue, I also know Doug Funny was Quail Man...anyway) before we got married.
Jake & Sheena gave Jeff the tank for Christmas 2004. Jeff went through a couple fish before Quail Man, all Cichlids, meaning they eat other fish. We went together to get Quail Man downtown at a pet store off of University Avenue.

Quail Man was a very pretty color, white with an orange belly, and he'd turn purpley blue when he was scared or we moved his tank and he got a little startled or stressed out. He's been with us since we've lived here on Quail Avenue and Ethan has gotten to have him in his room since he was born. It's the only pet Ethan's ever had.

About 6 months or more ago, Jeff was tired of taking care of Quail Man (though he was easy to take care of...we'd feed him once every 1-3 weeks and fill his tank up the same amount of time apart). One night, while I was at work, Jeff decided to flush Quail Man down the toilet and sent me a text saying he was doing so. I didn't get the text until it was too late...or so I thought. I got another message saying he tried flushing him TWICE and he would not go down!!! I said, "Take him out of the toilet! That's sooooo mean!!! I will take care of him!" So, Jeff did just that, and he's been with us ever since. The only thing is, I kinda forgot to take care of him sometimes. Sometimes, I remembered to feed him maybe once a month...
But he hung in there! He was great. Very low maintenance. I'm not sure if he died of starvation, or of some other tank error, but he died shortly after I filled about 4-5 inches of water in his tank. I wonder if I did something wrong, that was my first time filling the tank. I didn't put any stress coat in the water, I think Jeff always did that. Whatever it was that caused it, he's gone now. :( It kinda makes me sad!
But, there is something a little weird or ironic to the story...
Ethan has been getting Chiropractic treatment since he was born (because of his torticollis, but that's another story) and recently at the Chiropractor, Dr. Brist said that something electronic in his room was disturbing his treatment progress. He did some tests and nailed it down to the fish tank! Isn't that crazy? Well, we've been talking about it and didn't know where to move the tank to...and then boom, Quail Man dies! Like it was a sign that we really needed to get the fish tank turned off or out of his room. Well, we turned it off, and it's just sitting with water in Ethan's room...so empty. But, for the better I guess for now. Who knew something like that could affect so much?

Here are a couple pics....

There he lay...gone...(He doesn't look very pretty in this picture)















Ethan looking at the dead "Quail Man" (A Firemouth South American Cichlid)

Sunny Summer Days...

Summer is finally off and running!

Yay!!! There are blossoms on my squash and tomato plants...yay I can't wait!!! We had some summer squash from Jake & Sheena's garden last night...it was delicious...thanks for sharing the wealth you two!!! We sauteed it in a little olive oil, when tender added some salt, pepper, and soy sauce...it sizzled nicely and had great flavor! Bon Appetit!!!

Here are a few beach pictures...







Wednesday we went to Lake Calhoun...Sailboats in background...





























Ethan kept picking up the rocks and was trying to eat them...















Thursday...We went strawberry picking yesterday...(Mom, Sarah, Ethan, and I) delicious strawberries...we were eating them while we picked.






































Today...Ethan got into a little trouble when I forgot to shut the bathroom door...look at that guilty face! Ethan: "What'd I do? I'm just playing with my truck, see?" (That was a brand new MEGA roll of toilet paper...looks like less here than it really was) He unrolled it all the way to the cardboard! Must have been fun!


















And right now, I'm updating my blog while Ethan naps! (Oh, and enjoying this too...)
(It's called a Venti Iced "Starbucks Double Shot on Ice" (containing 5 shots of espresso) It's just like an iced latte...it's probably the best deal they have right now...for summer. I ask them to substitute the classic syrup in it for vanilla syrup, but tell them to only do half the amount and I add a little extra milk...it's perfect. Only $3.04 with tax. Jeff and I sometimes split one of these (Who says it has to cost $8 everytime you go to Starbuck's?) Try out my discovery! You can substitute any flavor for the classic syrup...and 5 shots...come on! This would normally be atleast a $5 drink!
(I needed a little motivation to clean...hahaha oh lovely Friday!)

Recent Pictures

I love my lil family...














I love my lil boy...

































I love my hubby...














What do you love?

I did it.

I did it. Finally. Tomorrow is my last day at Eagle Street. I've worked there for almost 4 years...and for the past year have almost quit a million different times. I've debated and rationalized the decision for so long and this time, I finally decided to be done. It's a good thing. I already feel really good about it. It's time for change and I am soooo ready for that change to take place! I feel like instead of just working a "job" I can focus on doing something that means something to me or someone else. It's exciting! It's like starting over. And for now, I'm just going to enjoy being a mom! Also, I've been making a lot of jewelry lately and Rayna and I are going to do a craft show together next weekend to sell it! I'm excited about that! Also, I am going to start shopping around different floral shops and hopefully get a job at one part time! Yay! Also, next week, I am taking the 40 hour wedding design class at koehler dramm's Institute of Floristry! I am suuuuuuuuuuper psyched (sp?) about that!!!! I can't wait! I love going to school. Especially for something that is HANDS ON and FUN!!! This morning I was dreaming about all of the different things that I could do for my sister's wedding...hahahaha...not that she has a significant other or anything, but it's just fun to think ahead! I'm always trying to think ahead of what I'll do on my next design project or next whatever!

Here's a change of conversation...let's talk about the weather! Yesterday it almost hit 80 Degrees!!!! YAY!!! I thought I was on vacation...it was amazing. Pure happiness. So, I checked my dashboard for the weather tomorrow and the HIGH is supposed to be 44 degrees and rainy/snowy/sleet!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?? SNOW AND SLEET? Yeah right! So much for those shorts and tank tops! I guess I got a little excited too soon. Oh well, I can't wait! This summer is going to be soooooooooooo much fun with Ethan! He LOVES going outside and I know he'll just love going to the beach. It'll be way easier than when he was so little and I had to keep him completely out of the sun. I can't wait! He is getting quite the personality lately too...let me tell you. He is so funny and knows when we laugh at him and then he does this fake laugh to get us to laugh more...it's just funny. Weird to think we'll be trying for another baby somewhat soon. It's all so exciting. This life is so amazing. It just makes you think and there's no way one can even imagine how amazing heaven must be.

And...one more thing...I love growing as a person. Character building. More and more lately. Just bettering yourself. My sister Sarah speaks greatly of reading lots of books to better yourself. And that's what I am going to start doing. It's time to get serious!!! :) I order all these books online because they look so good to read and then they sit on the shelf. I am going to make a list and start on it for the summer.

And another thing...my best friend, Jeff. This quitting Eagle Street is one of the best things for our relationship. This year I think we're actually going to be able to spend time together. In years past, for many many years past, we've always had somewhat opposite work schedules and hardly got to see eachother. Well, this year is going to be different. It already is. We are closer than we've ever been and our rebuilding all started on our trip to Arkansas. We finally got to have quality time. I really enjoyed driving to Arkansas. Moon roof down, frequent stops at coffee shops and just pure quality time. So great. He is so great. Becoming more and more of the man God has called him to be and I love seeing him and me grow. And growing together. The other night I came home and he had a fire going in our fire pit, he was grilling food for dinner, had loads of laundry going, and even bought some milano cookies for me and secretly stashed them in the cupboard. Wow. I couldn't have thought. It was fun. Our fire with s'mores was fun. We never really did s'mores growing up, so now I make them at every bon fire that I can...there's just something fun about it.

Anyways, I hadn't blogged in a while and thought I should update. I'm really missing my dear sister Sarah........I can't wait for her to come home, but am SO EXCITED at how much she is growing as a person! The first year out of high school I think is the hardest and most character building. So, way to go, Sarah! You're doing great! I also miss my family that is in good ol' Arkansas...a special shout out to ya'll...I love you and miss you mucho!
And to all, a good night.

My Little Bruisers...

Monday morning, Jeff and I were hanging out downstairs and Ethan was coming down the stairs...when he was one step from the bottom, turned around, ran into the wall, and fell flat on his face off the last step...
cut his top and bottom lip open...we were calling him "Puffer" cuz it was all puffy...

Then, Monday evening, before I was about to leave to coach a Cheer America class, Jeff yells from downstairs, "Nicole!"
I said, "Yeah?"
He replies, "I think I need a band-aid."
I said, "What happened?"
He runs upstairs and shows me his hand...cut wide open...open enough to see the tissue inside...
I say, "I think you need stitches."
He says, "Yeah."
So we headed to Urgent Care, where they gave him 5 stitches...luckily he missed cutting any vital tendons and muscles.
(He had cut his hand open with an olfa (razor blade type) knife).


I've got 2 little bruisers on my hands!!!

:)

P.S. My running into the curb the week before (causing my rim to crack) resulted in a flat tire and a need to replace the rim...so we replaced the wheel and then got the alignment fixed today because they said it was way off (on the side I hit the curb, go figure)...sometimes this car stuff doesn't seem to end. Thank God that He always provides when we need it though!!!

And we just got out our deck furniture last week...what were we thinking???

Last week, Jeff and I cleaned out our garage since it was so nice out...upper 40's...and while doing so, pulled out our little table and chairs that go on our deck so that we could enjoy the weather and have breakfast outside and such...well, I guess that was a little too soon...

(Kudos to Jake--he told me to post pictures)
















EDIT: HOURS LATER...


















The grill...full of icicles...


















EDIT: Hours later...same day! Today! Yay!!!
















Ethan, playing with the stick (that goes in the slider door) and putting it in the snow...















I would really like summer to be here already!




EDIT: ONLY HOURS LATER...

all the snow is almost melted...take a look...















glad it didn't stay too long! It's supposed to be 50's on Thursday and Friday!!! Yippee!

Taxes...

We FINALLY filed our taxes! We thought we'd have to pay in a bunch of money this year from all of the painting work we did...
But we didn't have to! Everything else out-weighed it! Yay! So, we'll actually get a little back which is VERY exciting!!! Last year, we bought a vita-mix with our refund...I think this year it's going towards student loans and such...anyways, we were very excited about that! The only downer is that our tax guy said we might not get that $600 per person/ $300 for children refund that EVERYONE else is getting because we are getting money back...there's a chance though...I guess we'll see...

And, I've felt like my head was going to explode all day long...I must have picked up some kind of head cold...I feel like I'm sitting crooked right now, but I'm actually sitting straight...
We made some carrot/ginger juice this morning...it was very HOT! Ethan thought it was juice...and kept pointing to it and wanting it...so, I gave him some, and then he burst out crying. It was kind of funny, but sad...it was probably really good for him though!

Brrr...it's cold and windy and snowy outside...I really thought this snow stuff was over...at least, I'm over it! (I want to be planting my garden like, Nate, Evan, Jake, and Sheena are doing!)

At work...

Just at work...this girl begged me to work for her, so I am. But I am so bored, because there isn't anything going on at the Xcel. But, I brought my laptop and am just sitting at a back table rolling silverware and chilling...reading (and commenting) on everyones blogs...it's fun...and time for one post of my own!

I'm really excited to go down to Arkansas for Easter and my lovely sister Sarah's birthday! It will be very fun and exciting! I am actually looking forward to the drive down, too. Quality time with my best friend, Jeffrey and my little love, Ethan. I think it will be really fun! Then a 4 hour detour to Eureka Springs to pick up SARAH!!! Yay!!!!!! I can't wait! I work SEVEN DAYS IN A ROW before we leave, and then I get a nice 5 day break! Yippeeeeeeee!

Still working at the Eagle Street Grille...doing floral design...just booked another wedding for this summer. That makes 5 weddings coming up. Working on the boats again too this summer. I'm excited for that. It's always fun being on the water. Especially when Jeff and I get to work together. It's fun. Well, I have nothing else to say...I want to go on vacation. This weather the past 2 days has been gorgeous. It was 49 degrees yesterday! It's supposed to be close to that tomorrow too and tomorrow is my last day off for 7 days...yikes! I'm excited though. Later

MN Swarm

Ever been to a professional lacrosse game?
Recently, I waited on some MN Swarm players at Eagle Street and they gave me 6 tickets to their game. Jeff and I went and Jeff brought 3 of his friends. It was fun! We've been to lacrosse games before, and always enjoy them. It's fun to watch the guys beat on each other with their sticks. hahahaha Here are a few pics...

This is a picture of where our seats were...6 rows up from the players bench...


Jeff and Ethan...















Ethan and I...

My Little Cupcake Monster...

Ethan, what a cute little boy.

I made cupcakes for my 242 group at church for my birthday and I let Ethan have part of one after they were made. Then he discovered that there were more sitting on a plate where he couldn't reach them.

He kept going, "uh, uh, uh, uh," and reaching for them...
Take a look:


I had a longer video that is even funnier but I think it is too big to put on this site...
Here is a picture of the incident too...















one more for fun...

My First Post...

It's been a while since I've done a "blog." In fact, I pretty much stopped blogging when Ethan my little 13 1/2 month love was born. But, my sister, Sarah and brother, Jake have convinced me to start blogging again...but this time I won't use xanga...that site is still up though I noticed. www.xanga.com/iamwaitingfortomorrow

Anyways, last Saturday (the 12th) I was in the middle of setting this up and was cut off by a very important phone call from my mom, and so, here I am a week and a day later finishing it up.

After over a year of not "blogging" it's weird to be doing this again, but I'm glad. It will help me stay in touch with the Fam that is in other states.

P.S. Today Jeff asked me when we are going to move to Arkansas...I was really surprised because he's always seemed the least bit thrilled of the idea. Still just a thought I guess...(or a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th thought...)

Jeff is working tonight and I'm watching the food network...I love that channel...but it always makes me hungry! So I'm making black bean and pumpkin soup...a recipe from Jan Suzanne that is delicious, healthy and easy!

Back to the soup making!

Might as well add a short clip of Ethan playing...(with one of his favorite toys...a thermos!)

That's all for now!