something

 Have you ever had the 'feeling' that something good, exciting, fun, and happy is going to happen...but have NO IDEA what it is. Ok, maybe I am the only crazy one- however, that is how I feel today. Why? I have no idea. What? I have no idea. When? I have no idea. But I do know one thing... it makes me giddly- whatever it is. I can't describe the feeling I have nor do I have an inkling what it will be- who knows, it could be something as fun as having the time to get a pedicure soon, or maybe something wonderful like the email or the phone call that we have been praying for, or as wonderful as enjoying a date with my hubby- but whatever it is it makes me giddy.
 Today the sun is shining, there is a beautiful blue sky and the wind is blowing like crazy. I am feeling giddy- I am hopeful for the giddiness to be from something big and really exciting, however I am also full of faith today knowing that whatever the giddiness is coming from, it is sent from God and for that I am thankful and very blessed! 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

sunshiny day

just thought I would say...

Today is a beautiful sunshiny day and God is good!

a weekend home????

This weekend has been our first weekend home since I think February!!! It's seems a little weird I must say BUT  we are trying to soak up every second of it while we can!!! Friday on my drive home from work, it didn't feel like a 'Friday' because I wasn't racing around trying to get everything done before we headed south or west or who knows where.
 The good news was that school seemed to go by fast this week(thank goodness- the kiddies are getting really restless and its not even May yet!) and since I took Wednesday off the 4 day week seemed like a breeze(I really think we should have 4 day work weeks and 3 day weekends!). We had our first track meet on Thursday(we won!) and Friday night we were lucky enough to be able to watch our friends little girl while they enjoyed a dinner out. IT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN! Saturday we enjoyed a nice long run, a nap and I did some pictures before we headed to Merriville to pick up my car. It was needing the 're-call' fixin'! On the way out there we got a call from our SIL Mandy asking if we could come down then instead of Sunday and help his parents move a few things. So- much for spending the day @ home! haha. Actually this worked out even better for us because we could stay home all day on Sunday instead!!! :)
  Today we went to church then headed home and put on the sweats. Nathan and Gavin have been watching a movie while I took a nap and we are getting ready to grill out some steaks in a bit. what a great day.
 It is going to be another very busy week- we have two track meets and lots of other little things planned.
on another note- I am taking my heart rate monitor back this week and will head to the dr. in two weeks to see if they find anything. I really praying and hoping they can find out something soon because I am very tired of it all and it's starting to wear on me. I just want to feel like myself again.
 enough for today- off to grill out. Enjoy the day. 

challenge

Nathan and I both love challenges- surprising right?! I mean our first date was a challenge in the game of 'pig' on the basketball court and we love to challenge each other with silly little fun facts so yesterday when Greg(our pastor) gave us a challenge at church to read out Bible every night this week- it was just what we needed to get us motivated. Pretty sad that it took that instead of us being able to do it on our own, but hey gotta start somewhere.
  Tonight we just finished reading Philippians 1 & 2 and had a great conversation about joy and self-ambition. It made me think... Am I doing things out of self- ambition or for God? Does what I am doing bring me joy or personal happiness? What is the difference? Hopefully these will make you think as much as they did me...just more great challenges for me this week. 



speaking of happiness... I know this picture below will bring alot of Boiler fans GREAT happiness!! This is our main-man Robbie Hummel this weekend at the benefit run. Although he wasn't running- it was a promising sight to seem him walking without crutches! Can't wait to see the #4 out on the court again in November :)

a little crazy

Some people might seem to think that Nathan and I schedules are a little crazy. When I tell everyone at school what the plans are for the weekend they just start to laugh- I never think too much of it but after our Saturday I might agree(just a little).
 After a 4am wake-up call, work and track practice on Friday I raced home, packed my bags(that were still a little packed from last weekend), packed up my camera and all of the goodies, helped Nathan load up some boxes that needed to be taken down to my moms, grabbed some dinner and headed out the door. We got to his parents around 10, hung out with his dad for a while and hit the sack. We had another 4am wake-up call because I was schedule to be at Purdue at 6:45 to take pictures for a benefit race that the Caner Research Center. It was awesome! Have I mentioned the I LOVE photography..well if not... I LOVE IT!! This was something that I had never done before and it was sooo different then a typical photo shoot but really fun. After about 650 photos, my arm was pretty tired but I wasn't complaining, the experience was awesome.
 After the race, we jumped in the car and drove down to moms(3 hrs) and dropped a few things off, laid in the hammock for about 15 minutes and then headed back north(3 hrs). We stopped in Lafayette, enjoyed dinner, then headed the rest of the way north. We stopped off at his parents to drop off a TV and then made it back to our house around 10:30, walked in the door and crashed! Needless to say- it was kind-of a crazy day!
 Today was a beautiful day... we got up and went for a run before church, it was such a beautiful morning we had to enjoy it! After a great church service Nathan had to run into a few stores so I got the grocery shopping done for the week. Once we were home it was time to start 'spring cleaning'. Nathan and Gavin were planning on heading to the golf course, however they got sucked into watching some crazy snake show(some guys spent 10 days with 100 snakes in Las Vegas and they taped it) then one about sharks so by the time that was over it was time to grill out! I love it when Gavin comes over...we have such a good time together and I love having him here! Dinner was delicious and the company was tons of fun!
 I just finished the final load of laundry, thats the good news- the bad news is that I still have to put it away, I think that will be a tomorrow project. Gavin and Nathan are attempting to watch a movie but I hear a few snoorzes coming from Gav so I am not sure home much he is watching! haha
 Here are a few pictures from the race...it was really cool because all of the money raised when to cancer research- what a great cause!

 this was a WOW picture for me...this lady had about 100 or so names pinned to her for people that she was racing for...she said she had about 20 more to add before her next race. very touching. 

this was a group of sorority sisters that had joined together for the day to walk for a fellow sister that is fighting cancer..she was in the middle. just shows how sisters stand by eachother- really cool.

Overall, it was a MUCH enjoyed weekend and a very productive day today. Not too pumped about heading back to school tomorrow but as my SIL Mandy reminded me last week...only 5 more Monday morning wake-ups!!! YIPPEEE. I think I can handle that. :) night y'all.

bamboozeled

I thought I would post a funny little story about how Nathan bamboozeled(its the word that he uses when I ask him to do something or stop  somewhere , aka-shopping, when he is not expecting it) me last night.
  We were getting ready to head to small group and we were running late. normal.  He decided he better take out the trash before we left so we didn't forget when we got back. normal . I came running out of the house after forgetting something. normal . I jump into the front seat and start to close the door, however he stops me just before I get it closed. NOT normal. He asks if I can drive. sometimes normal. At this point I am guessing it is because he has to make calls to the office and his stores so I said sure. normal. We pull out of the drive way and I am expecting him to get out his phone, however, this is not the case. Instead he pulls out.....

THE CABELAS WEEKLY NEWSPAPER SALES AD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOT normal. I was bamboozled into driving so he could check-out all of the cool new sale items this week. I don't think I have laughed that hard in the long time. He is such a cowboy/hunter/fishermen/camper at heart.  Just one of the many reasons I love him so much!!!

drawing a blank

I have drawn a blank all week on what to blog about. I only had a two day teaching week but spent them at a conference. It was a great one and I really enjoyed it but was brain fried when I got home. I took Friday off and we spent the day as a family at home. Gavin was down and it was very enjoyable. We got a lot done at the house, I photographed a great family and enjoyed the peace and quite along with the beautiful weather. Today has been a day full of emotions. It was 7 years ago that my dad went to be with God. So hard to believe, feels like just yesterday and I can still feel his hugs and hear his laughter. However, in the same way it feels like so long ago and I miss those hugs and his warm smile.Today we spent the day with family and great friends-just what we needed. We told stories, laughed, cried and thanked God for the time we all shared with him. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
We are heading back north soon, but its so hard to leave this beautiful weather AND the final few holes of the Masters! Happy Sunday.

Happy Easter!

Today was a wonderful day...and all because Jesus gave his life for all us. How grateful I am and in awe of him.
 We had a wonderful Easter morning that started with the Easter bunny trails that led us to our baskets. This is a tradition that my mom did for us and I can not wait to pass it down to our children- oh how I dream of that day.
  There were lots of goodies in our baskets and I can't wait for warm weather to wear them. The Easter bunny really knows me pretty well! After our basket opening we all got dressed up and headed to church. Greg talked about Jesus's tomb and the HUGE stone that was moved away- he asked a question that I really had not thought about before....What is the stone or stones that are in my life? Something I will really be thinking about this week.
  After church we came home and finished up getting ready for everyone to come to our house!!! I LOVE HOSTING EASTER!! I love it how Nathan's family AND my family join together on this special day to rejoice together. I left the Easter trails out for Morgan and Marek to find their baskets with too! It was so fun watching them try to find their basket. Once everyone was here we had 14 hungry mouths to feed and I think there was about enough food 400! Not only was there lots of eating, we had fun outside with the kiddies, great conversations and lots of love throughout the house. I am so thankful for the family that God gave me AND for the family that has welcomed me as a part of theirs. Today was a wonderful day...and all because Jesus gave his life for all us.
  a few pics from the day too!

                                   morgan looking for her basket!!!                           

 (notice the Easter bunny trail behind her) 

  marek found his basket and was enjoying his 

new book with uncle nathan               

 such a stud

t

the taulman boys

d

enjoying lots of yummy food!

the 'kid' table!! 

now its time to play(except for grandpa)!!!!

 

lots of family love!

m

and last but not least....the love of my life!!!!

Happy Easter!!! 

there is one very very special person that is missing from these pictures....we miss him so much and even more on this day because I know how much he loved Easter and the meaning behind it all. I know that he was celebrating in Heaven and I can not image what that celebration was like!
miss you daddy...more than you know. Happy Easter!