Monday, Monday

I had some errands to run while the girls were at String Project rehearsal tonight, so Caeden and I went to Meijer.  (I've been painting our downstairs bathroom, and we picked out new rugs for it.)

He promised he wouldn't ask for anything if I just let him go down the LEGO aisle and look...

He told me which sets were the absolute coolest.

He kept his promise, so I decided we needed to stop for ice cream at DQ on the way back to get the girls.  This sweet couple was walking in ahead of us.  Melted my heart a little bit...

He chose Reece's cup blizzard.  (I had pumpkin pie, mmm.)

He wanted to try deep fried mushrooms, so we got a small order.  He decided he didn't like them.  

Not big adventures, but little moments that are sweet to my soul.

Saturday Stuff

Jeremy was up early today, running errands while the kids and I slept in.  He came home with Shannon's truck and the big ol' hog roaster in it.  He had run into some neighbors at the gas station, and they came down to help unload the roaster.  So kind!

This afternoon, Jeremy and I volunteered in the concession stand to raise money for the wrestling club.  JFL football games were going on today, so the kids got to see their classmates play a little bit.  Caeden took a couple hours to finish the giant pickle from the concession stand!  ;)

Loves

My little loves coming home from school today...

Signs of Autumn

When I walked outside today, this made me smile...

Then I found this little treasure spot...here comes my favorite season!!

Most Thursdays this fall I am picking the kids up from school and booking it over to ISU as quickly as possible to get Sylvia to her cello lesson by 3:45.  

My little superhero made me smile today too.  

Homecoming Parade

The kids and I went to Ridgeview's homecoming parade tonight.  We'd never been before, and I had no idea there were so many festivities!  Our favorite part of the night was the marching band.  They were in the parade...

Then after the parade, everyone went back to the school and the band performed their field show.  Their theme this year is Dr. Who.   It's a great show, and the band is looking and sounding better than ever!  I'm really proud of them.

We watched the fall sports teams get introduced, the homecoming court announced, and the king and queen revealed.  We love our little school and community.

The Starfruit Disappointment

For months, or probably more than a year, Annah has been curious about starfruit.  She has asked me to buy some every time we've gone to a grocery store. Finally, we got some, and this morning we tried it.  It looks so pretty. 

It tasted terrible.  We liked the texture, but it just tasted nasty.  Bubble officially burst.  Bummer.

Tonight, Caeden got out of the car and played with sticks on the little quad area while the girls were at Sinfonia rehearsal.  He can entertain himself for a long time if he has a stick to play with.

Checkers in church

Our current sermon series at church is about the life of Joseph, and how God and Satan both have a plan for our lives.  Today Pastor Todd talked about choosing to ask God for an extra special portion of His extra special power.  Even though Joseph had a lot of unfair, awful things happen to him, God was always with him and helped him by His power.

The girls played checkers during the sermon today...

Everyone received a checker, and at the end of the service, everyone was given the opportunity to bring their checker forward and ask a pastor "king me" with another checker...a reminder that we can ask God for an extra portion of His extra special power!

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20

Franken Berry and Fruity Pillows?

Last night we dropped Sylvia off at Emma's for another sleepover.  The rest of us got a quick bite at McD's and went grocery shopping at Meijer.  We are the epitome of Friday night fun, I tell ya!

Someone spotted the Franken Berry, Boo Berry, and Count Chocula cereals.  We had to get all 3, because the kids had never had them before.  (Neither have I, as my momma taught me not to eat sugary cereals.)  Caeden tried one this morning and loved it.  He actually asked me to take his picture with it to commemorate his first time eating Franken Berry...

Meanwhile, Sylvia and Emma pretended to eat big food pillows at the mall...

Baseball Cards

This week, Caeden was playing in his closet, wanting Daddy to get out his G.I. Joes and play.  He knew there were two tubs of them.  Then he noticed there was a third tub, and wondered what could be in it.  He was such a good boy, knowing it was his daddy's things, and didn't look in it without asking.  We peeked in and noticed it looked like baseball cards!  

Caeden has been asking Jeremy about his baseball cards for a couple/few years now, and Jeremy has asked his mom several times where they might be.  Turns out, we had brought them here 8+ years ago, and they've been in Caeden's closet the whole time.  Oops!  I guess the wait and search just made opening this tub all the more exciting tonight!  They are looking forward to going through them all to see what treasures there may be.

Date with my teen

This evening, Sylvia had a birthday slumber party to go to at Emma's house.  We picked up a gift for Emma at Hobby Lobby, then met Jeremy as he got off work.  Jeremy took Sylvia to her slumber party, then took Caeden shopping for Legos at Meijer.

Annah and I got to have a little date night!  We had dinner at Chili's, a rare treat because I had a gift card.  Annah had never eaten there before, and really liked it.  We shared a chocolate chip skillet cookie too.  She really liked that!  

We went shopping for a baby gift (shower at church tomorrow!) at Hobby Lobby and Target.  It was fun to buy cute wittle bitty baby things.  We also stopped at Bath and Body Works and sniffed lots of yummy scents.  We bought some fall body sprays.

It was so nice to hang out with my sweet girl this evening.  She must have thanked me 20 times for dinner and shopping and the time together.  She sure is a kind and appreciative teenager.  She must have learned that from her daddy, because I sure wasn't that type of teen.  I am so amazed by her gentle spirit.

When we got home, Caeden was in his room happily building his new Metalbeard's Duel Lego set. 

PoC's 2nd anniversary

We had a fabulous celebration today, giving God all the glory for what He has done and is doing and will continue to do!  

I put together this video of a few of the blessings and memories of the past year...

Our wonderful friend Jean had made some amazing treats for Lorrie's celebration a few weeks ago, and she brought the recipe today to stop our begging for it.  

We had a great worship set today.  This is music on my stand.  (I was singing today.)

I didn't get to take many pictures today, but had a team that got some great shots. 

Caeden and friends in PoC Kidz

Both Annah and Sylvia helped with toddlers/preschoolers today.

13 children were dedicated to the Lord by their parents today!  It was a beautiful moment with these children standing all through the aisles surrounded by their families.  Each staff member had the privilege of praying over a family and presenting them with a paper doll chain to represent all the lives the child being dedicated will touch for Jesus.  Such a beautiful ceremony!

12 people were baptized today!  I was so excited and blessed to be allowed the honor of helping baptize our friends Kelsey and Caleb!   

(Obligatory selfie while waiting our turn in line  :)

Kelsey and Caleb are siblings, the children of our dear friends Todd and Jennifer.  We were part of two Life Groups with their family, over a period of about 5 years or so.  In fact, we were connected even before church... We remember well praying for extremely premature baby Kelsey shortly after we moved here.  Then, we only knew her as the granddaughter of one of Jeremy's coworker/friends, but we joined the family in pleading for her life, and God answered our prayers in such a beautiful way!  It has been an incredible joy to watch her grow into a lovely, gentle young woman of God, a blessing to everyone who knows her!  

We also prayed with Todd and Jennifer for their son Caleb before he was even officially part of their family.  While we were in Life Group together, they were in the incredibly emotional and seemingly endless process of adopting Caleb from Haiti.  We will never forget praying through the frustrations and joys of bringing Caleb to his forever home and family.  For a while, Caleb and Kelsey even attended the same school as our kids, and we have loved them all through several moves as well.  How awesome it was to get to be part of Caleb's declaration of living for Jesus today!

I don't even know how to express how amazing it was to get to be part of baptisms in this way!  It is probably one of the most awesome things I've been part of in my life!  Glory to God!!!

We had a yummy free lunch with our church family after the baptisms.

I enjoyed the meal with my buddy Bob B.

It was a gorgeous day--much warmer than predicted--and we were so grateful!  The kids had a good time playing outside after lunch.

Jeremy spent the day working hard, as always...setting up, greeting, tearing down.

Annah and her youth group friends found time for some silly selfies, of course...

What a blessed day!  

Here's a video review of the day I was asked to do...

Friends returning

We met our Ohio friends Kevin and Regina at the Bayern Stube restaurant in Gibson City this evening!  We've done this several times, but it's usually been years between meetings.  Tonight we are celebrating because they are moving to Bloomington soon!  We are really excited!

The kids had never eaten at Bayern Stube before, and were intrigued to try the authentic german food.  They had bratwurst, pork roast, spaetzle (noodles), and German fries.  They liked it all!

These friends are pretty psyched to be working in the same building again soon!  Kevin and Jeremy first started at SF around the same time in Ohio, were fast friends, roommates for a while, and were in each other's weddings.  Though there haven't been as many memories made together over the past 11 years, we are looking forward to making many more soon!

We couldn't resist having dessert too...Hey, we're celebrating!

This week...

Caeden's drawing of a scientist working his lab...