roller coaster.

Ah Life...It is a roller coaster.  

Up and down.  Upside down.  Twists and turns.  Unpredictable.  But then you get off and say, "LET'S DO THAT AGAIN!"  

or maybe your head is spinning and all you want to do is find a bench and put your head between your knees. 

Either is fine, and normal I suppose.  

I have been enjoying life, for the most part.  And God is so faithful to give me little reminders of how he is near and how much he loves me.  Just last night I had an amazing conversation with a client.  He trusted me with questions and musings about his future.  He asked my advice on various topics. When we were finished, he thanked me for taking the time to talk through some things and then shook my hand.  As I walked back to the office, I was almost bursting.  I was struck by the hope he had.  I was confident in that moment that no matter how far he had slipped in his life, God could bring this man back and he could live a fulfilling, meaningful life.  Granted, I'm sure we'll run into obstacles in the days to come.  There will be steps backward...but I got a glimpse of what is possible.  So I spent the next few minutes in the office praying for him and the other guys I work with.  Asking God to continue this work he has started.  and asking for strength and words to be used as a vessel by the Spirit to impact these lives I have been placed in. 

Aside from work life, married life is the thing that takes the most time, energy and also one of the best encouragements for me during my job craziness.  Ben has been SUCH a huge blessing for me.  We are such a good team.  Whether it comes to venting about our days, cooking/cleaning up dinner, taking care of the dog, planning our time off...we just mesh really well.  I am grateful.  Don't get me wrong, we're still learning the intricacies of being totally different people living life together.  And that has its ups and downs for sure.  But I have found that even when I'm having a tough time with something that has come up between us, the only place I want to be is with him.  And after we work through it, it is just one more layer of experiences and growth in the mural of our relationship. 

(wow, that actually sounded poetic!)

I think my favorite thing about Ben right now is that he prays with me.  Quite often.  And he asks me to pray.  It has been a really good thing, whether we are praising God together, or imploring him for strength at a time when we don't know what else to do.

never underestimate the power of praying with your spouse, significant other, close friend or family member.  Just making an effort to approach God together.  It strengthens your relationship with God, and that person.

Alrighty now!  pictures!

This is a picture that my brother took using his camera timer.  The kidlets were in bed, but I think it turned out pretty good of us adultos! 

Our dishwashing dog.  don't worry folks, she's just the pre-rinse cycle.  we thoroughly wash and disinfect them. We just don't have a garbage disposal and it is easier to have her eat all the gunk than it is to rinse in the sink and have to pick that disgusting gob of who-knows-what out of your sink drain.  Strange textures, even stranger smells... *shudder* I can't even think about it without getting grossed out. 

First SNOW!  I realized today that when I downloaded my pictures, I was still putting them in the "Fall '13" file.  Well, I guess its about time to change that to "Winter 13."  I think I am still in denial.  Like, "Oh, today is pretty chilly...but it's just today...it'll warm up."  And I keep telling myself that until it actually does warm up.  Which will probably be in 5 months.  it will be a long period of denial.  I may need some help...

Yeah, this was last week...and it has gotten colder since.  *sigh* 

WANNA COME VISIT ME!? 

Miss living in St. Paul...miss sights like the St. Peter Cathedral.  So beautiful and regal. 

beautiful architecture. 

So all of the leaves on our front tree decided to wait to drop its leaves about 2 weeks after all the other leaves on other trees dropped off.  Then it decided to drop them all at once.  So we waded through inches of leaves for a few days until Ben had some time to rake.  I let him do it because he says it is therapeutic.  Same with shoveling snow, apparently.  

The pile after we raked.  it was seriously a lot of leaves. 

So here in MN people put their leaves/yard waste in these large 3 foot tall paper bags that stand up and you set them out on your curb (or in your alley) and the garbage men come and pick them up.  This is a strange concept to me.  Correct me if I'm wrong, CA people, but I don't think we used those kind of bags ever...?

Last Sunday was Ben's first orchestra performance for the season with Mississippi Valley Orchestra! 

we had front row seats.  Next to him is Allison, a girl from church here in Minneapolis.  Her brother Adrian was playing cello on the other side of the room.  

Busy playing something amazing by Mozart 

He's so handsome. =)  

I love him. 

Ok, I don't know why I waited so long to make this:  Chicken Tortilla Casserole.  (Ben has come up with lots of other fun names for it that include words like: hot dish, bake)

Yes, we did eat over half of it...just the two of us...

And in case you were wondering, the dog is fine and well.   She generally spends dinner time laying on the floor, sitting right by our knee hoping some food falls (or I slip her something) and occasionally emitting a high pitched whine to let us know she's still there.  

This is her alert and beggy face. 

At this moment, she is in the corner of our room "burying" her new cow bone under a bean bag.  burying when there is no dirt entails digging at the carpet, placing the bone in a far corner and nudging the object (clothing or beanbag or pillow) over the bone for several minutes until she feels satisfied that it is hidden adequately.  She may come back for it five minutes later.  it may be several days...but she always knows where to find it.  Often we don't even see her do it, and we'll be folding laundry and find her bone in the bottom of the basket, where she buried it earlier that day. 

This picture is for my dad, brothers and anyone else who has worked at Interior Services who may read my blog.  

We were having a vertical blind problem at the house I work at.  I knew as soon as I saw them that they needed those little clips that go on the top to repair the tear so they'll hang.  Well one of my clients got the brilliant idea to use duct tape and then cut a little hole in them.  And what do you know, it worked!  I thought I'd pass it along in case you are repairing verticals. The duct tape hides nicely behind the valance too...so it remains aesthetically pleasing! (those are called valances, right Dad?)

Thanks to my an awesome Aunt/Cousin team, I received a crockpot for a shower gift!  

The other night I used it for the first time.  Ben's mom is the queen of crock-pot meals and she gave me a recipe for Chicken tortilla soup.  it was WONDERFUL.  I halved the recipe cuz I didnt' have enough of one ingredient.  but we may have "fought" over the leftovers because there was only enough for one of us to take to work.  

it was super delicious.  So thanks to the gifters, the recipe sharer, and the husband who ate it with me!

I'll leave you with this thought.  

I probably won't update before going to Mexico for Thanksgiving.  

YES! after missing last year, I'm going again...and taking Ben!  I'm sooo excited!

But I encourage you to really think about what you're thankful and then not take it for granted.  I'm not saying that black friday shopping is wrong, or ungodly...but it does make you wonder where people's priorities are...and if they are genuinely thankful for things they already have..  This is addressed as much to me as anyone else. 

Blessings!