Saturday Projects

I had grand plans to sleep late this morning and enjoy a lazy Saturday. I did sleep late compared to what time I get up during the week, but not as late as I would have liked. The morning quickly slipped away, but once I got going...Thankfully I remembered that I needed to clean out the storage unit, so I headed that direction. After a quick stop at the bank, it only took about 10 minutes to take the few remaining boxes out of the unit and into the Jeep. Then it was on to Super Wal-Mart where I did a little grocery shopping and picked up a few supplies for my afternoon project. Then it was back home to get the groceries put away and begin my project.

You might wonder what this project was...well, back when I first began this blog, I wrote a post about Stumpy. My mom gave me Stumpy back in February and he looked like more like this:

When my parents were here a couple of weeks ago we decided that he really needed to be put in a larger pot. So, earlier in the week I bought a new pot and a few supplies. I bought the rest during my trip to Wal-Mart this morning. I decided not to just re-pot Stumpy, but took an ivy that I already had into his old pot. I also bought a jasmine plant to add to my ginger plant.

I must confess it was a messy job.

However, I was quite pleased with the end result.

I also put all the boxes from storage in my closet. I am not sure how I managed to get a 7 foot Christmas tree and 15 plate setting of my grandmother's china in there, but I did. Now, if I can only figure out how to get the golf clubs in there. Oh well....

Everything Glorious

This song came to mind after reading a post on another blog, Walk Wisely. (You can check it out with the link to the right.) At least one person wasn't familiar with it, so I thought I would just post it here for every one's enjoyment.

(Some of you may have seen a different video earlier in the day. I had tried to load this one first but had technical difficulties. Apparently a trip to the grocery store on Saturday fixed them!)

New Look and Fall

First of all, I would like to say that the new look has nothing to do with the opinions that have been expressed about the look I tried earlier in the week. I had become tired of the other one and rushed to change. I wasn't completely happy with it. It has also become a tad more noticeable that Fall is here...well, at least as much as it every comes here.

Have I ever shared that Fall is my favorite season. I never really enjoyed it until I spent Fall in Virginia. I loved the crisp, cool mornings. The leaves turned red and orange. Then to top it all off, the evenings had a beautiful breeze and gorgeous sunsets. Fall reminds me of football games and jackets. The occasional smell of fire burning in the fireplace. Hot chocolate with marshmallows. The first frost. Pumpkins and Thanksgiving. I could go on and on and on...

I really looked for a picture of leaves and trees, but was having trouble with my clip art, but this is one is pretty cute...even if I say so myself.

Last 24 Hours

Just so no one thinks I have fallen off the face of the earth I wanted to let you know that I have spent my last 24 hours with my nose in a book. I have a few chapters left and I want to finish before calling it a day. I will try to actually blog tomorrow.

Home At Last

No, your eyes did not deceive you...That's right, I am home! We landed just prior to the torrential downpour at the airport. The rain has now stopped and I have gotten my luggage out of the car. Now I have a small mountain of laundry to do to prepare for the week. Well, that and some grocery shopping if I want to eat anything for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

I am looking forward to a couple of weeks at home. I have a couple of things planned for the rest of the year, but they are spread out over the next several months. I am also looking forward to blogging about something other than travel. I have several started, but haven't had time to really work on them with the crazy schedule I have been keeping. Stay tuned...

Greetings from Kentucky!

Well, it is Friday. WOW! Time has flown, but it has still been a long week. I am enjoying the conference and have learned a good bit. More than anything I feel refreshed, which was extremely needed. I hear Francine Rivers speak on Wednesday and tonight we had Dennis Jernigan lead worship. We have had others speakers, but I think those are the two most of you might have heard of.

I haven't gotten to see a lot of Louisville, but I did grab a couple of quick pictures last night when we took a walk through downtown. Enjoy!

Yeah...still haven't figured out how to rotate the pictures. Sorry!

Yes, Again

If you are weary of reading, know I am weary of packing. However, I am off again...well, I leave tomorrow. My bed is covered with yet more clothes. The suitcase is on the floor. I am trying to make decisions, but they are not coming very quickly.

So, where am I going you ask. Here are a few hints:

1. It is the farthest I have been thus far and I get to fly.
2. They are known for their music, but it isn't Nashville.
3. Women often can be found wearing hats in this city in May because of a specific event.
   
4. This city is also know for its contribution to baseball because they make a pretty important piece of equipment.

I think those are pretty good clues. Any guesses? If you thought of Louisville, KY then you are correct. Louisville home of the Kentucky Derby and Louisville Slugger baseball bats. I will be attending a conference for work there and will return on Sunday. It looks like I will have Internet access and am taking my laptop, so I may actually get to post a time or two.

(Note: It is now 11:00pm. My suitcase is packed and I am calling it a day. Sleep, here I come!)

I Have Been Gooped!

I survived the Fall Retreat with a bunch of teenagers. Everyone had a great time and it was uneventful as far as injuries and accidents go. The theme of the retreat was Red Letter Rebels. There were four main sessions in which different staff talked about rebels that they admired. The four people chosen- Martin Luther King, Oscar Schindler, Jesus Christ, and Zana Briski (a NY photographer who taught children who had been born into brothels in India how to take photos, for more you can watch the documentary "Born into Brothels"). The teens were challenged to rebel against our culture that tells them it is okay to engage in premarital sex, drink, use tobacco products, and use drugs.

Of course this event was not without strange and interesting games. Which is why I gave this post the title of "I Have Been Gooped!" On Friday night we played a game called "Counselor Hunt". It was basically a game of Hide-n-Go Seek. If you got caught...well...you got gooped. I thought I had found the perfect spot. It was dark, and I was dressed in black and covered with a dark sheet. I heard the footsteps first. Then I heard, "I think it is a garbage can." They walked by and I thought I was safe. Then I felt a poke. Then a double poke. That was when I realized that I had been found and busted. I decided to the most grown up thing I could do. I popped out of that sheet and scared the four kids half to death. They got me back though when I ended up with chocolate syrup and baked beans in my hair. I know...gross! But at least I didn't get the honey and flour! (See, there are always things to be grateful for!)

There was also this giant swing in the ropes course. It pulled you up forty feet and then someone pulled the chord and you fell thirty feet before you began to swing. It was a pretty intense yet fun experience. Notice how my group has a death grip on that black bar. At least I look like I am having fun.

I also had some quiet time on Saturday morning before things got crazy. There were four rocking chairs on the porch of the staff cabin. I really enjoyed time in the far rocker with my cup of coffee and my Bible.

The view from there wasn't that bad either.

This morning I got up earlier for the optional devotion time. However, when the alarm went off I really considered opting out. We sat down at the camp fire, right off the lake. Surrounded by God's creation. Ducks were flying over the lake. The sun was began to peek over the tree line. (That's right Meems, I saw a sunrise!) I really wished I had my camera, but I did capture a pretty good picture once I got back to the cabin. (Sorry mlm- still haven't read that manual. Maybe by next week!)

A-G-A-I-N!

What does that spell? For me it spells packing the suitcase yet again. Getting on another busy yet again. Sleeping in a bunk bed yet again. Packing my own sheets and towels because none are provided yet again.

Don't get me wrong, I am not really complaining (well, maybe a little). I am tired of living out of a suitcase. I am tired of sleeping in a strange bed.

So, you might be trying to guess where I am off to this weekend. If it weren't 10:30 and if I still didn't need to pack and if I hadn't worked so much this week, I might be more creative. Therefore, this week's episode of "Where is the World is Jane?" has been canceled. I have decided to get straight to the point. I will be at Southwind Retreat and Camp outside of Ocala on the Teen Advisor Fall Retreat. I am the camp nurse and helping out wherever needed. I will return on Sunday to turn around and head out of town again, but you will have to wait on that one.

I was able to take the afternoon off and spend some time with my parents. We had a couple of chores to do, but then my mom and I went shopping while my dad played golf with his brother. They have headed back to Orlando and will begin their drive back to TX on Saturday. I did want to share a few pictures from our Disney adventures before closing.

This was neat because you had to walk through a wardrobe into Narnia!

Sorry, I can't figure out how to turn it with my new computer! :(




Still sideways, but I felt like a giant when this picture was taken...I definitely get the height from my dad's side!




Yeah, yeah, yeah...but not so tall compared to this guy!




I wish I was sleeping right about now!

More Reedo

Just a quick update from the Taiwan front before I call it a day. Everything seems to be going extremely well. Reed apparently is a pretty mellow and happy baby. The only problem they are having is that the crib is small and he is a wild man with all his tossing and turning. He hit is head and Jeff and Abbey decided to put him in the bed with them. I am not sure that they will try that again.

Here are some more pictures, of what I think might very well be the cutest baby that I have seen in a while. (Of course this does not include those that I am related to...Jacob you are still my number one little man!)

I am one happy boy!




Before you know it, I will be crawling!




I'll take my half out of the middle!




I sure did enjoy my first bath...and I am cute even when wet!

4-D Reed

I promised pictures of the "real" Reed or "4-D" Reed. (For those of you who don't understand this statement- my friend have had Flat Reed for the past several months. He has been on all sorts of adventures and if you are just filled with curiosity, check out their blog LandLife. There is a link on the right.)

With no further wait....

There are about 300 other photos, but I thought I would just post a few...I am back in town...well, until Friday when I leave again. I have decided not to put up the suitcase, but rather just unload it.

Well, it is off to bed for me...I can barely keep my eyes open!

Update

Just wanted to take a second and share that Jeff and Abbey have Reed. He is a beautiful baby and everything seems to be going well. I will try and post some pictures of their meeting at some point.

On a personal note, I am having a good time with my parents. We are headed to Animal Kingdom this morning. I have taken lots of pictures, which is good because my parents forgot their camera. I will post some of those at some point this week.

And on the Road Again

Welcome to the second episode of "Where in the World is Jane?" This weeks clues are extremely easy.

1. It's a magical place.

I really don't think I need to give any others. Tomorrow I am headed to Orlando where I will spend the next two days with my parents at...you guessed it...Disney World. I will return on Monday since I need to work the rest of the week. My parents will still be staying near Disney World and we will try and get together throughout the week. Needless to say the blogging could be sporadic next week and the following week.

Stayed tuned for an update and the next edition of "Where in the World is Jane?" I still have two more trips this month!

Reed

Some of you may know that my friends, Jeff and Abbey, are in the process of adopting a little boy from Taiwan. His name is Reed and is 6 months old. They are actually leaving tomorrow for Taiwan. They have a pretty full week, but next Friday they will return home with their son. Please pray for this new family as they begin this journey together. Pray that they will have smooth travel and a smooth time of transition.

I can't wait to show you their first family picture, but until then you can see this adorable face that I (and a lot of others) have fallen in love with over the last several months.

You can read more about the Land family at their blog, LandLife.

I'm Back

In case you were worried, I am back. I arrived safely yesterday morning, but have been extremely busy ever since. I crashed yesterday once I got home. Finally, pulled my weary bones from the couch after a 3 hour nap. A quick shower and I was off to LifeWay. Then back home and back to bed. Today was work.

However, it was a great trip. The white water rafting was fun and I enjoyed getting to know some of the college students. I also managed to get a little sun. The trip was relatively uneventful if you don't take into account the 911 call and following search and rescue that the volunteer Polk County fire department had to perform. There were 171 people on this trip and on Saturday afternoon about a 100 of them hiked the mountain behind the camp were we stayed. A 700 pound boulder fell on a girls foot and caused several lacerations and compound fracture to her ankle. She had surgery and was discharged less than 24 hours later. She even made the trip back with us.

Benton, TN is a beautiful area and so was Camp Agape.

I am sorry I didn't get any more pictures. I figured it wasn't the brightest idea to take my camera on the river. I will share the fact that I did manage to stay in the raft the whole time. Many people got thrown our during the trip, but not our raft. The six of us managed to hang on.