The Past Week in Pictures

Merry Christmas!

" For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
 and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

Isaiah 9:5-7

Merry CHRISTmas from our home to yours!

Our trip to Wisconsin

The weekend before Easter my mom came over to our house in Minnesota...I love having her here. We always do fun things, like bake and walk and eat and shop. Plus she's always so helpful:) It's always a little sad when she goes home but this year I was able to go with her!! We left on Tuesday morning and headed back to Appleton because I was off of work for a week for spring break. So I was able to spend almost an entire week with my family and those three little rascals...which doesn't happen that often, or ever! Alex was set to head over on Friday for Easter weekend so I went to the doctor with the rascals, played in the yard, rode bikes, played hoops, pulled wallpaper down, shopped for my mom's house, baked...it was a busy week and oh so enjoyable. Then we celebrated Easter with the fam and Grandma and Grandpa and that was really fun! Unfortunately while I was back we found out Alex's uncle Kurt passed away. So sad:( So we made arrangements to head to Milwaukee for the wake on Easter Monday. Alex and I decided it might be fun to spend the day in Milwaukee, walking, chatting...a date day! Well who knew, Milwaukee would be 35 and windy with intermittent snow flurries. Not the day we were expecting and Saz's, the one place we wanted to go, was well, CLOSED on Mondays. Despite the gloom, we managed to have a great day complete with custard from Kopp's. Now I'm looking forward to our next chance to rediscover Milwaukee...one day:)

Tenebrae

Tenebrae...latin for darkness...one of my favorite worship services of the year.  As we near Easter, and continue reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ, the joy and sorrow it brings, and the way it makes my heart rejoice in thanksgiving is all consuming.  I have a Savior...Jesus Christ...who has been my sacrifice...how I glory in my redeemer!

Tonight I am looking forward to the tenebrae service at the church I grew up in...all the while reflecting on the selfless, perfect sacrifice of my Savior, entrusting to me eternal life and the forgiveness of the cross.

Happy Good Friday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We are not in the least Irish and yet, to all of you out there, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I get a kick out of watching all the families, kids, and adults alike all in green today...it's great. Especially when I work for a very Irish family...Riley, Liam, Colin. Their names scream Irish. There they were today, donning their wellies and caps, ready to shamrock!

So from us to you...shamrock it up!

2009! Happy New Year!

Last night after we finished up working and quickly getting the house ready for two separate showings, Alex and I snuck away to Caribou for a large coffee for two. It's these little moments that seem to make the world of difference in our busy days and weeks. Afterward we were free to hustle and bustle and get things ready for our small group New Year's Party. Thanks to the Goodall's for hosting and for a fabulous night to ring in the new year! We are so thankful for the friends we have made through our small group...definitely a blessing:) So last night we got into listing things we were thankful for so I thought I might be able to recap what we are thankful for, each on our own. Here goes: Andrea: -God's continual provision and guiding through the past year...I never would have thought back last January that here we would be in 2009 having completed a house flip, carrying two mortgages, Alex trading in remodeling for freelance work, etc. In October we budgeted and had money to carry both mortgages through Jan., then in December through God's provision until March and now until May. GOD IS AN AMAZING PROVIDER...in ways we would have never fathomed. -For Alex, his love, grace and sense of humor, work ethic, drive, and faith in Christ. With him I am complete, a better person and more loving wife. -For my job and that family...their kindness surpasses and the humor of children keeps me sane -family, friends and BBC, for support, love, and prayer Alex: -for my wife, her trust in me to go out on a limb and try something new, support even when all plans have been changed, altered, and have not come out as planned, sense of humor to keep me laughing even when I am extremely stressed -God's provision and ultimate plan...like Andrea said, God has provided in stolen tools, broken cars, through family and friends, in ways we couldn't ask or imagine. To be brought to this place of seeing provision with new eyes is the perfect place to be -The lessons we've learned through the past year, ways we've been taught to love more, discern, and trust were huge

{Praying for 2009 to be even more than we could ask or imagine...for us, you and yours}

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends and fellow readers! May the birth of Jesus resound within your hearts as we treasure the company of those near and dear to our hearts this Christmas!

a little holiday hello...

we have been so busy...but so blessed by friends and family:) it's been awhile since the last post, and in the past few weeks, things have been pretty normal around our house. here are some glimpses into our lives... -after thanksgiving we have been decorating the house for christmas and shopping for presents; as of today all gifts are bought...yea! -my mom was in town the first weekend of december and i hosted a table at our church's christmas luncheon...so much fun and a great kickoff to advent -work, work, work...shop, shop, shop...plan, plan, plan -this past weekend Alex and I headed back to Appleton for my family's christmas...a christmas party with all the siblings on saturday...so much fun:) i love seeing and interacting with all the family we don't see that often...all those 12 nieces and nephews have grown so big, not to mention my little brother who has now surpassed me in height and weight at age 14! saturday we spent the day with my dad and stepmom, watched rv at their house, finished up christmas shopping for my mom, and ate at Frank's pizza with baskin robbins for dessert...yum! sunday my brother chris made us a pancake breakfast and we headed back to minnesota after picking up alex's birthday present at macy's a great weekend and a great december...we can't wait for more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We were so blessed to have fmaily around our table and in our lives for Thanksgiving. We so enjoyed the day with Alex's side of the family for Thanksgiving. The day started out with the Macy's Day Parade on tv, an annual tradition, prepping dinner, as we hosted, and getting all the last minute things prepped. It was a great day, full of food, family, and fun:) Thanksgiving night my Dad and Teri headed in to town with my brother Matt and his friend Nick for some Thanksgiving weekend fun. It was so nice to have them in town, one because we don't get to see them as often as we would wish, and because it's always fun being around all of them. We hit up the MOA on Friday via the light rail for some post-thanksgiving shopping, the Holidazzle parade, and Fogo de Chao for dinner. According to Alex, that was the best meal he has eaten in a very long time! While we were walking to dinner a fight broke out on the other side of the street. The looks on my 14 year old brother and his friend's faces were priceless...a little different from Appleton:) We laughed at how cultured they were getting!

All in all a fabulous weekend and we have so much to be thankful for.

Things we are thankful for: -Jesus, his saving grace in our lives, though we are so undeserving, He is so gracious -Families, their presence in our lives makes life filled with joy -BBC, our church, the people we've met, the teaching -God's provision through our most difficult and stressful year of marraige -For each other, the joy Alex brings to me...amazing -The food on our table, the roof over our head, the clothes on our bodies

Oh that we would be more giving and thankful the rest of the year!

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

Happy Easter!  and what an Easter it is...looking out the window, I spy inches upon inches of white, fluffy snow!  But we rallied against the weather and ventured out to Easter Sunday service, decked out in spring attire.  A way to brighten the day!

Here we are after returning home from church and by now we have already changed into more comfortable attire for an afternoon at Alex's brothers house for Easter dinner.  My family growing up as far as I can remember would have Easter at our house, my aunt's, or grandma and grandpas, and it always consisted of ham, aunt diane rolls, and anything else we thought of.  After getting married I realized that not every family does things the same way.  Coming from a family that is quite a bit larger than Alex's, having a formal sit down dinner or going out for brunch, just wasn't possible.  That is where getting married comes in handy.  Alex is from a family that normally goes out for Easter brunch (this year we are doing dinner together), but they also do Christmas dinner, Christmas day brunch, etc.  It is so fun celebrating with both sides and participating in each others traditions.

Hope you are finding yourselves in the company of great friends and family this Easter as we celebrate the resurraction of our  Savior Jesus Christ, whose death secured Eternal life for all whose hearts have been opened to the Gospel!

Happy Easter!