Where I come from…..

On Thursday I went to Buchanan to see my good friend, Lindsey. After that, I went to see my dad and Sheila- As you can tell from my earlier post, Ive been feeling kind of reflective, I had a hard time not reflecting on my childhood, as I drove out my old 1 mile long driveway.

This view below is the view from the last half of my old driveway driving out to the main road- its beautiful.. and as a young gal, I don’t think that I ever appreciated it. I thought everywhere was this beautiful.    This is straight down the driveway on the way to the where the school bus picked us up for school.     They’ve built this house since I’ve moved away.

    I love this, it looks old, doesn’t it? It’s not, I took it on my drive out.    Along this fence is the main road. . . we would look here for the bus to come. ;)    

I liked my trip down memory lane, and I hope you enjoyed it too. :)

This Is Me, Now.

  

I am not really sure why, but, I have been thinking a lot lately how different my life than what I expected it would be like.

When Dennis and I dated, I pretty much knew from the beginning that he would be my husband, but I was 16, I had NO idea what married life was ACTUALLY going to be like. I had no idea that we would actually have discussions about money, that I would actually be one of those women that felt satisfaction in clean dishes, and a made bed. Or that I would ever look back on a photo of us taken at our rehearsal dinner and that think: ‘Wow, we look young and thinner there.” I NEVER thought that would have ever been me. But this is me, Now.

I never thought that I would enjoy messing up an entire batch of homemade peanut butter, or that I would ever dream of making my own applesauce, or get excited about blurred backgrounds in photography, and I certainly never thought that trimming ear hair for Dennis would be anything that I would take part in, but this is me, Now.

I would have never guessed that I would take part in conversation with Dennis, or any man, for that matter, while they use the bathroom, or floss their teeth, or well…. other details I never even considered were a possibility, and that I would actually not think about it. None of this happens in the mind of a 16 year old- or even a bride that walks down to meet her husband to be. She just does not think about these things. .. but this is me, Now.

The things that I really thought I would be thinking/doing/pursuing.. is not me, not us, not yet.

God has truly shaped me to be who I am now, and even though instead of having a high paying job, married, with 2.5 children…

I am Me, with Him, trimming ear hair, working finances out in the bathroom while getting ready for bed, and scurrying to beat the cat to bed so he does not bite my ankle, EVERY NIGHT. . this is me, now.

…I like me, Now…. more than I would have liked me, Now… 5 years ago.

Just a little longer

 

Remember this photo from May? When my friend Betty joined me in Florida for a little vacation?

Well its time again, and its just around the corner.

Yes, Saturday, Dennis and I will heading down to Florida together for a night or (maybe two) at Clearwater Beach, In the Tampa Bay area- then we have a nice evening planned on Wednesday for a dinner date in Orlando for Lobster fest. Then the rest of the week will be spent right here, with my tanning oil sunscreen, sunglasses, and a book. I am ready- -

well, almost- -

I have a test tomorrow (Thursday) and then my Praxis I exam on Friday. THEN we can go!!! We will be gone one week, and will be back on Saturday.

So, get ready for some on location posts from us next week!!!! :)

From the Man of the MaggiTwo

 

Dennis found this video on http://truthmatters.com turn on your volume and listen to this. . . :) Have a good Sunday!

I have a new toy---

Yes, I have learned what editing can do-

I have converted to not relying on straight out of camera shots. .  :)

 

Some Food, Fotos, and fupdates… :)

I know this looks weird… but I want to plead with you… that it is good….. if you like….. Honey wheat bread, original Hummus with fresh cilantro chopped in it, with two slices of tomato, a slice of American cheese, and mushrooms and cucumbers dipped in Greek salad dressing. Served with Lowfat large curd cottage cheese with chopped up strawberries, and blueberries. It was good-

tonight, I was itching to hold Mr. Canon again after a long week of togetherness last week. I gave him a long nap- and today he came out for some sunshine!!

I have majorly neglected my regular lens. . (18-55mm) for my big guy- - the 50-250mm lens.

I have learned that my little man- - ((lets call him: “little guy”)) does some pretty neat things that I didn’t know about. :) (thanks, Nathan)

Let’s talk about Nathan for a minute. Nathan is a great teacher- - and I must admit that he does ALL the research- and he tells me things he has learned- - and then I get the verbal tutor and Mr. Canon and I with either Big Man- or little guy- - go out and try it out-

so those of you that compliment me, I must point to Nathan for the great research because I would seriously not know how to change lenses if it was not for him- so, thank you Nathan- I REALLY appreciate it.

Anyway- - back to business….

speaking of business- - I think that I am going to pursue this- (if you have not noticed by the “logo” at the top of the blog- - and some talk here and there about a website- and some late night wonderings about how I can pull this off..)

Oh- - you wanted pictures!! (that’s right)

By the way- - I am taking my PRAXIS I exam for the FINAL TIME- on July 31. Most of you know this, but I have one more try, and if I do not pass, they do not let me continue on.. which means my last year of college will be delayed a semester or even a whole year.. :(

If I DO pass, then I will start blocking (pretty much have the involvement in a school, acting as student(still taking normal RU classes) and elementary school teacher…. and then student teach in the Spring, which is pretty much a teaching job I do not get paid to do, and then graduate in the Spring with my teaching license with a degree. WOO-HOO!

I am really really hoping to go ahead and get this last year behind me, and honestly, I am super curious if I will actually like teaching more than I anticipate I will. An element of this is exciting because it is new, and fresh- another element of this makes me anxious BECAUSE IT IS new and fresh- - And I dislike NEW & FRESH- - most of the time.

But no worries, I am preparing for this test on Friday, and I trust that a itsy bitsy ol’ standard state board exam cannot stand in God’s way- - of his will for my life. And I feel blessed that no matter what happens…. the anxiety that comes from knowing that a lifetime future is in the hands of one test- - is nothing to really get upset over—none of this is a surprise to God….

and even more than that- - it is not as if I was exclusively created for teaching 30 snot nosed kids, photographing someone else’ snot nosed kid…. but wiping the noses of my own snot nosed kids… and loving my husband. .

that is my ultimate calling, my ultimate, most precious, weightiest responsibility….

Right here at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

God Bless!

WSBC Baptism & Picnic

We were privileged to see Lauren and Rosea get baptized today!

please turn your volume on, r low if you are at work.. ;) and take a look at these pictures! :)

Eddie, Rosea, Marshall, and Lauren  It was beautiful to see Lauren baptized by her father!      Baptisms always make me think of the day that I got baptized. What a wonderful symbolism to go down and old man and rise up new. Eddie told a very touching story about a project that he had for seminary, and it was to do an evangelism project. It was near Christmas and our church offered free gift wrapping, and handed out the gospel of John. Only 7 people came, and Rosea was among them. She is a beautiful example of devotion to God.  

   JESUS IS LORD!    

After the baptism we had a picnic and enjoyed food & fellowship.    If these two ever get married, I want one million dollars for this photo!!! :)

 

After we left the baptism, we drove around and we found this deer. I was able to sneak Mr. Canon out for a peek.

And I thought that this sign was neat, even though it does have an “e” on the end. ;)

Have a wonderful week, and thank you so so much for taking the time to look at our blog!! ;)