Give Thanks!

GIVE THANKS

WITH A GRATEFUL HEART

GIVE THANKS

TO THE HOLY ONE

GIVE THANKS

FOR HE'S GIVEN

JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON

AND NOW LET THE WEAK SAY

I AM STRONG

LET THE POOR SAY

I AM RICH

BECAUSE OF WHAT

THE LORD HAS DONE

FOR US

GIVE THANKS...

Thanksgiving is Not About Turkey!

Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into God's presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

YWCA Christmas Wish List 2010

Once again the YWCA has had a busy year with a large increase in the amount of women and children we are serving.  We have also recently merged with the YWCA of Elkhart County greatly increasing the number of families we will be serving.
When you are shopping for gifts for your family this year, consider picking up an extra present for a hurting child at the YWCA.
Below is a list of items that would be wonderful gifts for the many women and children that will call the YWCA home this Christmas season.
Note: It will be most appreciated if all gifts are non-violent in nature.
Teenagers:
CD players, MP3 players, watches for male and female, hand held videogames, music CDs, DVDs (G, PG, PG-13 only), young women's toiletry items, young men's toiletry items, hats and scarves, hair accessories, age appropriate art supplies, gift cards, books, footballs/basketballs/soccer balls, make-up
Children (age 4-12)
Legos and other building sets, dolls and accessories, books, trucks, cars, educational games, craft projects, hats, mittens, socks, transformers, zu-zu pets, hand held games, play sets (such as farms, schools, houses for preschool age), nerf balls
Infants and young toddlers
Baby action toys, educational toys, stuffed animals, books, hats, mittens, socks, teething toys, rattles/small hand held toys, baby wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, baby wash/shampoo, and baby monitors
* batteries for toys are always appreciated and needed
Adult Women
Robes, slippers, pajamas, throws, alarm clocks, MP3 players, portable CD players, CDs, cameras, watches, costume jewelry, calendars, organizers/day planners, book bags, perfume, bath/body lotions, hair accessories, hats/gloves and scarves
In order to ensure that all the YWCA have a wonderful Christmas, it would be helpful to have donated gifts by Monday, December 13th.
If you have any questions, plese call Peggy King at 574-233-9491 X 307.

Newlyweds: What Do We Need To Know About Money?

Unity over money will build a strong foundation for your marriage
from daveramsey.com on 12 May 2010
 
If you’re getting ready to tie the knot, then one thing you definitely want to talk about with your honey is money!

You probably have lots going on, and emotions are running high. But believe us: now is the time to get on the same page about money. Money fights and money problems have been the leading cause of divorce for decades—but the good news is that these issues are preventable! Getting on the same page creates a strong foundation for a healthy, lifetime marriage. Plus, you’re stopping money fights before they start!

A lot of couples find that being unified with their money increases their intimacy overall. Like Dave says, “When you can talk about money, you can talk about anything.” Talking about money is easier than you may think—especially if you start before you say, “I do.”

The process of bringing your money together doesn’t have to add stress to a time of pre-wedding bliss. It can actually be fun! Here is a quick five-step checklist to get you started building a solid foundation for your life together:

1. Put It All on the Table
   Transperency is Key!
2. “Marry” Your Accounts
   When you get married, combining your money into joint accounts is a crucial step.
3. Start Budgeting Together
   Get tips for uniting over the budget.
4. Make A Plan
   Set priorities together and make a plan for moving through Dave’s Seven Baby Steps as a team.
5. Put Your Relationship First
   Whatever you do, don’t stress! It’s just money. Your relationship is so much more important.

Financial Peace University (FPU) is Dave’s class that is perfect for newlyweds! Take a break from the hassle of wedding planning for a couple of hours each week to have a great time connecting over money. FPU classes are offered at locations all over the nation. Learn more about this life-changing class and locate one in your area as you prepare to say “I do.”
Source

Join a Special Group of Women!

I love this time of year. The leaves are changing into beautiful colors and there is such a spirit of giving everywhere.  People wake up every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas and seem to realize there are poor and hurting around us.  They will go out of their way and give and I love it.  I sometimes wonder though, if those people realize that the poor and hurting are with us in this community the other ten months of the year, as well.
I would like to suggest that this year be different.  Become a Women of Vision for the YWCA North Central Indiana.  Join a select group of women who are changing the world one family at a time. YWCA Women of Vision help provide the resources needed to care for women and children in need in our community.   You can give a one time lump sum donation or you can spread your pledge monthly throughout the year.  If you can't give much, that's ok because every little bit helps to provide a safe shelter and resources for the 1300 women and children we serve every year.

If you have any questions, please contact Peggy King at 574-231-9491 X307 or email her at pking@ywcancin.org.

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Recognizing Domestic Violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

Domestic violence crosses all ethnic, racial, age, national origin, sexual orientation, religious, and socioeconomic lines. Domestic violence can happen to anybody. In fact, studies suggest that one-fifth to one-third of all women will be physically assaulted by a partner or ex-partner during their lifetime. In heterosexual relationships, 95 percent of all victims are female; and 95 percent of all perpetrators are male. In same-sex relationships, domestic violence happens with the same statistical frequency as in heterosexual relationships. Find out how to recognize domestic violence by clicking here.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) is always open.

Overcoming Domestic Violence: There is Hope!

Source for video

Amy Grant: Ask Me

I see her as a little girl
Hiding in her room
She takes another bath
And she sprays her mama's perfume

To try to wipe away
The scent he left behind
But it haunts her mind

You see, she's his little rag
Nothing more than just a waif
And he's mopping up his need
She is tired and afraid
Maybe she'll find a way
Through these awful years
To disappear

Ask me if I think there's a God up in the Heaven
Where did He go in the middle of her shame?
Ask me if I think there's a God up in the Heaven
I see no mercy, and no one down here's naming names
Nobody's naming names

Now, she's looking in the mirror
At a lovely woman face
No more frightened little girl
Like she's gone without a trace

Still she leaves the light
Burning in the hall
It's hard to sleep at all

'Til she crawls up in her bed
Acting quiet as a mouse
Deep inside, she's listening
For a creaking in the house
But no one's left to harm her
She's finally safe and sound
There's a peace she has found

Ask her how she knows there's a God up in the Heaven
Where did He go in the middle of her shame
Ask her how she knows there's a God up in the Heaven
She said His mercy is bringing her life again

She's coming to life again

The Cycle of Violence



The cycle can happen hundreds of times in an abusive relationship. Each stage lasts a different amount of time in a relationship. The total cycle can take anywhere from a few hours to a year or more to complete.

It is important to remember that not all domestic violence relationships fit the cycle. Often, as time goes on, the 'making-up' and 'calm' stages disappear.
For more information

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. If you are concerned about your relationship, please do not hesitate to call the YWCA's 24 Hour Hotline at 1-866-YES-YWCA.

October is a Month for Celebrating Woman's Issues!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!
Did you know:

• Every 2 minutes, someone in the US is sexually assaulted.
• 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.
• About 2/3 of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
• Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States.
• Every 9 seconds in the US a women is beaten, usually by her male partner.
• Between 15 and 25% of pregnant women are battered.
• 50% of homeless women and children in the US are fleeing Domestic Violence.
• 80% of children from homes where partner abuse occurs will become an abuser or a victim as an adult.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Did you know:

• Breast Cancer is the number one cause of death in Hispanic women.
• The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman grows older. The risk is especially high for women age 60 and older. Breast cancer is uncommon in women younger than age 35, although it does occur.
• Breast Cancer accounts for 1 in 4 of cancer diagnosis in women.
• The risk of developing breast cancer increases for a woman whose mother, sister, daughter, or two or more close relatives have had the disease. It is important to know how old they were at the time they were diagnosed.

Both of these issues are very important to women.

To find out more information on Domestic Violence go to: http://www.ywcancin.org/.
To find out more information on Breast Cancer go to: http://www.nbcam.org/.

2010 YWCA Walk a Mile

The YWCA Men's March Against Violence Against Women

I think the event was a success.  It's so great to see men standing up against violence.  There were some pretty great men there.  The top pledge raiser raised almost $3000.  Steve had a goal of $300 and as of today, he has raised $248 in pledges.

He even accessorized and dressed in red to match his shoes. It was a pretty cold morning, but I think the men had a good time anyway.

It's not too late to support him if you want.  Every little bit helps.  All the money goes to help women and children escaping domestic violence and sexual assault.  Last year the YWCA served almost 1400 women and children.  Many of the women are young, single mothers who have a high school diploma or some college education with little or no income.  These women come to YWCA with almost nothing and the YWCA helps them get back on their feet, so they can take care of their family in a safe environment.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

To support him follow the link.

Thank you so much to everyone that has supported him and YWCA so far.

Family Biggest Loser

My family is starting a "Family Biggest Loser" contest.  It should be fun.  Steve and I just bought an exercise bike from Sears a few weeks ago, so should really help us.  The bike was on sale, plus our discount, plus Friends and Family Night, so we got a good deal on it.  Steve has actually gotten up early and rode on the bike a little almost every morning since we got it.  We got it mostly because Steve is trying really hard to lower his cholesterol and our doctor wants him to lose about 50 pounds.  This contest should be even more encouragement for us.  We are pretty competive and so we really want to win.  Hopefully Kroger has fruits and veggies on sale this week.  We will be stocking up.  I'm not really a morning person, so I mostly ride it after work in the evening.  We put it in the living room, so we can ride it even while we watch TV.  :o)   
Hopefully all the Aunts, Uncles and cousins will get involved.  I have a pretty great family, so this should be fun.  The contest starts today and ends on December 24th, so I guess that means Thanksgiving will be more healthy this year.

Second Project is Done!

Good Luck Bear likes the hat too!

Today was a pretty relaxing day.  Steve went to Chicago to a Cubbies vs Cardinals game with Damian.  So I was home all alone to relax and work on my next crochet project. I made a little white baby hat with a green border and a green/brown pom pom.  It's pretty cute. 
I did get some laundry, dishes, and cleaning done today too.  It was a great end to a very busy and stressful week.
I got some new yarn today.  Hancock Fabrics had it on sale for 90% off. I wonder what I should make next. 

My First Project is Done!

 

Good Luck Bear likes the blanket. I hope Baby Butts likes it too!

I decided earlier this summer that I am a little domestically challenged.  I can cook pretty good, but when it comes to sewing or anything like that I am useless. I can barely sew on a button.  I decided that I wanted to learn how to crochet a baby blanket.  It's not perfect, but I think it turned out pretty good.  It's a cute little yellow baby blanket.  It took a long time to finish it, hopefully as I get better at it I will get faster.

I wonder what I should make next?

YWCA Men's Walk Against Violence 2010: October 2, 2010

This year's Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event is October 2nd, 2010.  This is the second year for this event and last year it was a blast.
To Register and collect pledges of your own go to ywcancin.org.
If you can't walk yourself, then please make a pledge and support Steve.

Follow This Link to visit Steve's personal web page and help him in his efforts to support YWCA - north central Indiana.
Support Steve Here!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

My Hit and Run Story

So, I'm driving to work yesterday on Eddy (23) South on my way to work in the pouring rain when a black 4-door decides to speed out of the Dental Central parking lot, heading North right in front of me.  I slammed on the breaks and luckily he was driving fast of I would have T-Boned him completely.  He swiped the front driver side of my car and the headlight.  I stopped on the street and put my 4-ways on like you are supposed to, but since all the other cars on the road were honking at me I pulled over into the Dental Center parking lot.  I guess none of them saw the car hit me or more likely they just chose not to see it.  I called the Police and made a report, but I don't have real high hopes that they are going to try and find the person who hit me.  On a funny note though, when I called Police dispatch, the guy who answered the phone goes to GCC. He is one of my former student's dad.  Thanks Tim!
The car was drivable and probably (hopefully) won't be to expensive to fix. I guess that's what the Emergency Fund is for right?  I wouldn't even worry about fixing it if the headlight wasn't cracked. Most of it just scrapes and dents, luckily. It could have been a lot worse.

I think I was mostly in shock when it happened and then angry because not only did the other car not stop, but it didn't even slow down.  I wasn't really sore at first, but last night my neck and shoulder started to really bother me.  I'm pretty sore today, so I'm thinking a good massage is probably going to be on the agenda this weekend.  Even though I'm sore, I do feel lucky because I know it could have been a lot worse.

NY Times: Consumers Are Saving More and Spending Less

Consumers Saving More Than Thought


By CATHERINE RAMPELL
Published: August 3, 2010
Consumer Spending Stagnates in June (August 4, 2010)

Economix Blog: G.D.P. Probably Worse Than Reported (August 3, 2010) A new government report released on Tuesday showed that consumers saved 6.4 percent of their after-tax income in June, and that this savings rate had shot up as high as 8.2 percent in May 2009. Before the recession, the rate had hovered at 1 to 2 percent for many years.
The questions now are whether America’s newfound love affair with frugality will continue and whether families’ reluctance to spend will hold back economic growth.
In earlier reports, the government had estimated that families had not changed their spending patterns much in the last few years, despite the economic tumult.
As a result, many economists had worried that a big shock might be coming soon, when consumers finally faced the music and began the painful process of reducing their debt. So on the one hand, the fact that consumers really have been saving could be taken as very good news.
“The optimistic view is that this means consumers have built up a bit more of a cushion than we thought,” said Nigel Gault, chief United States economist at IHS Global Insight. “If they’re in better financial shape than thought, then maybe they could spend a little bit more freely going forward.”
That is not likely to happen anytime soon, though, he said. “It’s difficult to see consumer spending doing a lot better until we see more job growth,” Mr. Gault said.
Many other economists agree.
Ben S. Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, said in a speech on Monday that Americans would start spending once they got a healthy increase in their wages or salaries. But it is not clear when that will actually happen.
Private payrolls have shown slow growth all year, and economists are forecasting that the jobs report for July, to be released on Friday, will be similarly disappointing.
“There are signs that hiring will pick up, as growth continues and as companies become more confident,” said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics. “Still, I don’t think it’s going to be an incredibly robust pickup that’s big enough to bring unemployment down sharply and put consumers’ minds at ease.”
Along with high unemployment, high debt levels continue to discourage consumer spending. American households, though borrowing less, still are paying for their free-spending ways in the credit bubble of the mid-2000s. Their debt levels are far higher than they were in the 1980s and 1990s, when they had less than a dollar of debt for every dollar in disposable income.
At the peak of the housing boom, consumers’ liabilities rose above 130 percent of their disposable income. That ratio has been falling ever since the financial crisis, and for the last year has averaged in the mid-120s, according to the Federal Reserve.
“Whatever happens with incomes, deleveraging is still the biggest constraint on spending,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief United States economist at High Frequency Economics. But he said “nobody knows where what the final stopping point for the household leverage rate is.”
Given the June spending data and reports of tumbling consumer confidence in July, many economists say a best case for consumer spending would be an annualized growth rate of 2 to 2.5 percent for the rest of this year. Spending rose at a rate of 1.6 percent in the second quarter and 1.9 percent in the first quarter.
“That’s better, but it’s still not the 4 percent growth we used to see back when the U.S. consumer was considered the engine of global growth,” said Paul Ashworth, senior United States economist at Capital Economics.
Source

Celebrating 30 Years!

I Will Be Here by Michael W Smith

When you feel the sunlight fade into the cold night
Don't know where to turn
Don't know where to turn
And all the dreams you are dreaming seem to lose their meaning
Let me in your world
Baby let me in your world
All you need is someone who you can hold
Don't be sad, you are not alone
Chorus
I will be here for you
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you
In this world of strangers
Of cold unfriendly faces
Someone you can trust
Oh there's someone you can trust

I'll be your shelter
I'll give you my shoulder
Reach out for my love
Baby reach out for my love
Call out my name and my heart will hear
I'll be there
There is nothing to fear

Wedding Weekend!

My little brother is getting married this weekend!

Romans 12: 9-21:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Collosians 3:14

Vacation Fun!

Last week, I took a few vacation days.  I realized a few weeks ago that I don't have many real crafty skills.  I love to scrapbook but that's really all I'm really confident with.  My Grandma was in town this week for my brother's fiance's shower, so I decided that I would ask her to teach to me how to do something.  She gave me some private lessons on blanket making on Wednesday.  Crotcheting is a lot harder than it looks.  Wednesday night was my brother's fiance's Bridal Shower.  That was pretty fun.  Eleven days and counting and little brother will be married.

On Thursday and Friday, I drove back over to my parents house for another crotcheting lesson and some more practice.  I started my project but I'm not far on it yet.  I had all day to work on it and practice some more.  It's pretty exciting that I'm actually creating something. I hope it turns out really good.  Thursday and Friday night, I had to work at Sears.

Saturday and Sunday, Steve and I requested off from Sears because we were going to go camping with his brother but those plans fell through.  Steve found out this week that one of friends from back in Lima passed away last week, so on Saturday we drove three hours to Lima and spent a few hours there and then drove three hours back home.  We did stop at the Elkhart County fair on the way home, so that was fun. 

On Sunday since we had the day off, we went to church then we went to Potato Creek for some relaxation.  We went Paddle Boating on the lake for about an hour and a half.  It was so peaceful just relaxing out on the lake.  I had forgotten how much I loved Potato Creek.  It was Steve's first time there. I think he enjoyed the experience.  I love that Sears has been giving me Sundays off lately.  Having Sundays off gives us an actual day off from both jobs, so we have time to do fun things like go to the fair or go boating at Potato Creek.  It's also a good day to destress from the week and catch up on cleaning the house.

My Grandma lent us the book The Shack this week and I loved it.  The imagery in just made the pictures jump out of the book.  It starts with such a heart-breaking story, but it ends as a story of hope.  Even in our deepest hurts when we are angry with God it does not mean that God has left us.  God does not cause hurts, but sometimes he uses them.

"Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person's throat......Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established.........Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation.........Forgiveness does not excuse anything.........You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness......"

— William P. Young (The Shack)

Garage Sale Weekend

This weekend we had our multi-family garage sale.  I really do feel blessed that our family is surrounded such amazing people.  I swear these other 3 families are the greatest people on the planet.  Really, I'm not kidding. If you knew them, you would love them too.  We definitely had more business on Friday than we did on Saturday, but I think that was because on Friday we had a lawn full of baby stuff to attract people.  The baby stuff sold really fast which I guess is pretty normal.  We didn't sell any really big stuff, but we did bring drinks to sell.  I think we probably made more for us with the pop and water than we did with our nic nac stuff. 

At the end of Saturday, the other families left me in charge of all their stuff to do with what I wanted.  The good stuff I kept for the YWCA and the rest I gave to Goodwill.  That was how I spent my Saturday afternoon, driving around dropping stuff off.  It was a beautiful weekend for garage sales. It was a little warm but in the shade it wasn't too bad.  Mom said if it was a neighborhood garage sale and people were walking around I probably would have sold more drinks, but I'm still happy with how much we made.  It was also nice to have the weekend off from work.  Friday I took a vacation day from the YWCA and I requested Saturday off from Sears.  I thought I would have to work on Sunday at Sears, but I had that off too.

I sold two of the dolls we were trying to sell for the YWCA, but we still have 4 left.  Do you know a doll collector?  They need a good home. The blue and red one have already been sold.  Click here for more pictures.

4th of July Weekend

Wow!  I had such a great weekend.  Steve's brother called him on Wednesday night and told us that they were going to visit us for the weekend.  My first thought was, "AHH...my house is not child proof and clean at all."  Steve's brother and his wife have three precious kids.  They are 4, 18 months, and 10 days old.  So Thursday night, I ran around the house cleaning up, doing laundry, dishes and such.  Then our vacuum stopped working so we had to borrow my parents fancy expensive vacuum.  They have one of those Rainbow vacuums and I have to admit it was pretty neat and it did a pretty good job.  I'm not sure I could be convinced to spend 2 grand on it though.  We did get the house looking pretty good by the time they got here though.  They arrived on Saturday afternoon. I had to work at Sears until 9, so I had to wait until I got home to see them.  I so excited though knowing that I would be meeting our newest niece, Casey.  Look at that picture.  Isn't she precious?  She really likes Eskimo Kisses.  I think she slept most of the time we were awake.

Sunday: On Sunday, we woke up and went to the church that Steve's dad preaches at down in Wakarusa.  He spoke up how the road to Christ is a narrow road and the road to destruction is a wide road.  The wide road is easily and often more inviting in the short run, but it leads to death.  The narrow road to Christ is hard to stay on if you don't keep eyes straight ahead, but it always leads to better life. After church and some family time, we headed back home.  Steve put together a new toy for Keegan and Kyleigh to play with.  Keegan "helped" Uncle Steve put it together.  For lunch, Steve made some ribs and I made corn and mashed potatoes.  My sis came over and brought some cake and ice cream.  Keegan even helped me shuck the corn.  He was a very good helper.  Kyleigh helped a little too.  The ribs turned out perfect.
After dinner, we decided to take the kids to the St. Joseph County Fair for fireworks.  We got there with a little bit of time for Keegan to go on some rides and to see some animals.  We ran into some strangers...I'm mean the Radabaughs while we were there.  It's been way to long since we've seen each other.   Cadence and Keegan are only 21 days apart so I think they enjoyed seeing someone that was just their size.  The fireworks were great, of course.  Kyleigh enjoyed watching them from high up being held by Uncle Steve.  When we got home, it was bedtime.  Keegan was excited to get to sleep in the Ohio State room.
Monday:  On Monday, we actually had the day off from both jobs, because it was our Holiday from the YWCA since the 4th was on Sunday.  Steve got up and made breakfast for everyone.  Before lunch, Randy and Alexis and the cleaned headed home.  It was so fun having them visit for the weekend.  They should visit more often.  The rest of the day was not really planned, except for lunch.  We met a missionary couple that we met in Dallas for lunch.  They are actually from Mishawaka so they were in town.  We actually had a pretty productive rest of the day.  Steve cleaned out and vacuumed his truck and I got some garage sale stuff ready for our sale next week.  Then I cleaned out and vacuumed my car and Steve installed my new back seat.  My car looks so clean, at least on the inside, right now.  Now the next task is to re-clean up the house.  We gave Kyleigh some Cheerios for snack, so now we have de-Cheerio our house, put the toys away, wash all the sheets, etc.  It was a tiring weekend, but I loved every minute of it.

YWCA Run Jane Run:

August 21, 22, 23

5kwalk/run, 10k run for women

Saturday, August 21

$25 online registration, $30 day of event

Bike for Women
Sunday, August 22
$25 online registration, $30 day of event

Golf for Women
Monday, August 23
$85 per golfer, $340/foursome

Register Online Now or call 574-233-9491 ext. 324
All proceeds from the events benefit the programs for women and children through the YWCA of St. Joseph County.

Storms Again

Wow, we sure got pounded again with storms again last night.  We lost power for a few seconds, but it came right back on.  The news anchor kept saying that the storms weren't as bad as they were on Friday.  They sure felt worse to me.  On Friday, we were at Bethel watching the Desert Theater play and they never even stopped the show and we couldn't hear the storm at all.  We did watch the beginning of the storm before the play started, but it was all over when the play was over.

Is it just me or does it seem like there are more really bad storms this summer, then in the past? Last night, we got a different view sitting in our living room.  I did get confidence that our large tree could handle the storm though.  In the heavy winds, the large branches were barely moving.  This made me feel much less worried about waking up with a tree in my living room.  We went to be after 10 when the storm seemed to be dieing down a bit.

On a really exciting side note, Steve got a text message from his brother this morning that said, "The baby is coming today."  Do you know what they means?  I am going to be an Aunt again some time today.  This will be number 9 on Steve's side.  Let the spoiling begin!

Last night reminded me of a song by Casting Crowns.

I'll Praise You in This Storm

29th Birthday Weekend

This year was a great birthday.  Steve and I went to the Bethel College Desert Theater play, "Christmas Belles."  It's a Christmas comedy and it was hilarious.  The deserts were great, of course, too.  My friend, Stacy, was the director and he did a great job on the show.

We actually showed up at the play about an hour early and we were going to walk around the Bethel campus for a little beforehand, but the weather had other plans.  We decided instead to stand under the safety of the dining commons porch and watch the storm.  It was actually cool to watch and the rain misting us felt really good.  We watched several tree branches fall on the Bethel campus.  This made me really nervous that we would come home to fallen branches in our yard (or on our house.) Luckily, we did not lose power at the dining commons though or we would not have been able to watch the play.  That would have been sad.  When we got home, we noticed that all our clocks were blinking, so we must have lost power at some point.  Many people in Michiana are still out power three days later and many had trees/branches come down, so I am very thankful that they tree in our front yard did not fall.  Our neighbor lost the massive tree in his back yard.  If it would have fallen at an angle, it would have crushed his house.

Saturday was my cousin Joe's wedding.  It was a beautiful wedding. Carrie is so awesome. I'm so glad she is officially part of our family now. 

Sunday was Father's Day.  We went over to parents for dinner for the Father's Day/Our Birthday celebration.  Fun times were had by all.

A Must-Try Recipe: Mali Peanut Butter Sauce (Tiga Dege Na)

Below is the recipe for Peanut Butter Sauce (Tiga Dege Na) that we ate on Monday of Total It Up.  It was really good.  The lady who made it sent us the recipe.
If we were in Mali, I would use everything fresh from the market and not use any canned items. However, since we are not in Mali, I use canned food since they are less expensive.  You can use the fresh tomatoes if you like, but I use tomatoes in cans.

1 14.5oz Can Diced Tomatoes
4 Cloves of Garlic-Pressed
1 lg Onion-Diced
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
about 1/2 of the Chicken (chunks/strips of beef can be substituted)
1/2 cup Peanut Butter with no sugar added
3 Okra Sliced Thin
4 Large Hunks of Pumpkin (or squash)
1/2 Head of Cabbage

Heat the first five ingredients in a large stew pan. Add a fourth of a cup of oil and the raw chicken (or beef). Brown the chicken in the tomatoes mixture for about 15 minutes and then cover the chicken with water. Add salt (I like to use Seasoning Salt) and pepper. Let the chicken simmer until the meat is done. Remove the chicken and set aside to cool and to remove from the bone. Put the Peanut Butter into a cup and then add water until the Peanut Butter looks more like chocolate pudding. Add the Peanut Butter to the Stew. Add the Pumpkin and Cabbage to the stew. Let it simmer until the veggies are done. Remove the veggies and add the Okra. Cook the okra until it has become part of the stew liquid. The Peanut Butter and the okra are the thickening agents in the stew. The Peanut Butter will burn on the bottom if it is not stirred often.  If you think that it is too thick then add water, if it seems to think then let it cook for a while longer or add more Peanut Butter. Put all ingredients in the stew pan and simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve over white rice and eat it with the right hand.
IT IS SO GOOD. I hope you enjoy it.
Serves approximately 10 people.

Total it Up: Thursday and Friday

Thursday was our final full day of classes. We did some more "Fun"etics and "Fun"ology.  In the evening, Steve and I got to eat lunch with a retired couple that lives on campus.  There is a beautiful apartment complex for retired Wycliffe workers.  They both served in Peru.  They met in Peru and have known each other for about 40 years but they have only been married for 4 years.  Don and his first wife served Peru at the same time Lucy was there. Don's first wife died some years ago.  After all these years, they find themselves both living in the apartments and they hit it off again.  Isn't it awesome how God brings people together?  One of the things I think I have loved most about this week is listening to the stories of the missionaries and hearing how God brought them to Wycliffe and what they have been doing.
After dinner, the Total It Up crew had a campfire and S'mores.  It was pretty fun, even though we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. 

Today was kind of a closing day.  We talked about what our next steps could be and basically debriefed the whole week.  We all got graduation certificates, so I guess we are officially graduates. :o)

Since after lunch, we have been a little on our own since the program is technically over.  We helped the leaders clean up a bit, took a walk, ate dinner, and went swimming in the pool.  At the pool, we met a missionary couple that is about to go to Papa New Guinea.  They are apparently Financial Peace grads, so it was fun to talk to them about their journey.  Now we are just relaxing in our rooms. It seems way to earlier to go to bed.  "Daddy" Steinbach is picking us up from here tommorrow morning.  We are going to spend the day with him and then we head home on Sunday afternoon.

I was a little nervous about this week at first, because I thought the classes were going to be really hard and way over my head. I don't have skills in Linquistics like Steve does.  I have actaully learned alot. I'm excited to see what God has in store for us next.  I don't think I will be serving in a Language role, but there are so many support/administrative and Computer/IT roles that, with a little more training, I could definetly do.  I'm really glad Steve talked me into going on the trip.

Total It Up: Wednesday

Today was a great day. I even enjoyed the Grammar class.  I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I fit into the Wycliffe organization, since I don't have an interest in languages like Steve does.  I'm learning a little more everyday.  It's been a pretty great week.  The campus is beautiful.  A few of the other girls and I walked the trails around the campus for about an hour tonight.  It was such a beautiful night.  It was a little hot, but not too bad.  It looked like it might rain, but it never did.  We brought umbrellas with us, just in case.

Tommorrow is the last full day of classes.

Total It Up: Tuesday

We have computer access today, so I can actually type in more than 160 characters.  Woo Hoo!
Today, we started with a tour of the campus.  Since there was so many of us, we actually watched a video of a tour, instead of walking around everywhere.  It was such a beautiful morning, so I was a little bummed about that.
Our second class was another Language Learning class.  We have been learning Mandarin.  I actually learned a few words. I'm not sure how long I will remember them though.  The rest of the day was Phonology and Ethnomusicology. Phonology is the study of sound and Musicology is how music and arts are used in Bible Translation.

Total It Up: Monday

Today was full of classes: Phonetics, Anthropology, Literacy, etc...All very good. Dinner was an African Meal. It was really tasty.

Total It Up: Sunday

We landed safely yesterday.
Today, we spent a fun day with the Steinbach family and Lizzy. Tommorrow, the classes start.

One More Day!

Tommorrow, we leave for our trip. I'm not sure if we will have access to a computer while we are down there or not. I'm going to attempt to post from my phone, for the first time, during the trip. Apparently, I only have 160 characters though. That's alot harder than I thought.

Summer 2010

For the past few weeks, I have been working about 60 hours a week.  I know for some that seems like way to much and for others sounds easy, but I'm starting to feel a little tired.  I love my jobs though, so I guess that's a plus.  I'm trying to make as much as I can with the second job, because it's going to be a busy and expensive summer. 

Steve and I taking a vacation during the first week of June down to Dallas, TX.  The Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics is where Steve wants to do his Graduate work to enter Wycliffe.  We are visiting to attend a Total It Up week long workshop.

"This five-day course includes introductory classes on phonetics and phonology, grammar, language and culture learning, translation and semantics, as well as field reports, videos, and personal testimonies. Learn in a relaxed, informal setting with experienced translators from many different countries and language projects. Devotions, prayer time and group living build meaningful relationships between staff and students."

It should be a very stretching experience for me.  We also get to see one of my best friends, Lizzy, and her family while we are down there, so I excited about that too.
 
On top of that my cousin Joe is getting married in an amazing girl named Carrie in June and my brother is getting married in August.  My parents 30th Wedding Anniversary is also this summer.  Not to mention, we have 2 sister-in-laws that are expecting (one of them due very soon), one of my best friends, Tabby, is expecting in October, Steve's cousin had twins last month, my friend Esther is also expecting in the fall, our chef at work is pregnant (also due in October)...This summer/fall is apparently the time for babies.

And...Steve wants to do some work on the house this summer.  He wants to build a porch on the front, so we can sit out there when it's nice.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been three years already.  It feels like just yesterday we were getting married.  I think I learn something else I love about him every day.  We celebrated our Anniversary by going to Ruth Chris's Steakhouse for dinner.  It's an upscale restaurant in Granger.  I had heard some really good reviews about it and I have had also heard that it was really expensive.  Both of those are very correct.
The service was great. I love when I can see the servers helping each other out, working as a team.  The food came out really fast and very hot.  When they warn you not to touch the plate because it's hot, don't touch the plate because it's hot.  We both got steaks and they were REALLY good. 
Would I recommend that you save up and budget and go at least once for a special occasion?  Yes.  It's definitely a once in a while restaurant choice.  My dinner came with a desert and the sugar coma I was in later that night was Totally worth it.

Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you thirty cents? ~Peg Bracken

“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” --Dr. Adrian Rogers

Source
"In 2009, roughly 47% of households, or 71 million, will not owe any federal income tax, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
Some in that group will even get additional money from the government because they qualify for refundable tax breaks (aka. the Unearned Income Tax Credit Welfare check)."

Fun Tax Day Quotes

Goodbye Sallie Mae!

Today I made the last and final payment to Sallie Mae.  It feels kind of strange actually. I have been making monthly payments to Sallie Mae for since I graduated in 2004.  I don't think I will miss them though.
For the past few weeks, I have been working about 50-60 hours a week.  I have been called a work-a-holic by some and crazy by others, but today it all became worth it.
She has officially been kicked out of our back bedroom FOREVER.
We are not debt free by any stretch of the imagination. We still have Steve's student loans to pay on, but this is a success on the journey.  I'm so excited to finally be done.  During the past few Budget Committee Meetings between Steve and I, I could see the number falling and it started to make me angry that it wasn't gone yet.  A healthy anger, of course.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 4:19

YWCA Tribute to Women: May 5th, 2010

Source

YWCA Tribute to Women

Please join us for the 31st annual YWCA Tribute to Women
This year's honorees are:

Nancy Hellyer

Maggie Kernan

Barbara Warner

&
YWCA Women to Watch
Amy Hill

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Gillespie Conference Center
Hilton Garden Inn
South Bend, IN

Purchase seat/table

Sponsorship opportunities

Go to YWCASJC.org for more details or call 574-233-9491.

The Wealthy are Evil and Must be Punished

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for lunch and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

The ten men eat in the café every day and seem quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers, he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily lunch by $20. Lunch for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still eat free. However, what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his “fair share?” They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. However, if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to eat his lunch. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same bracket of earnings, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% saving s).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before And the first four continued to eat free. However, once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

“I only got a dollar out of the $20”, declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,” but he got $10!”
“Yeah, that’s right”, exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!”

“That’s true!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”

“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!”

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next day the tenth man didn’t show up for lunch, so the nine sat down and had lunch without him. However, when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start eating overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

Life is Great Right Now!

Life is going pretty great for us right now.  I feel like we are both working like crazy people, but it will all the worth it when we pay off my Student Loan. It has gotten to the point where the loan is just making my angry. I just want it to be gone tommorrow.  Patience is a virtue, right?  I bet Sallie Mae thinks we are crazy. I looked at our statement and since January 1st, 2010, we have sent a total of 9 payments to Sallie Mae in various amounts.  If everything goes as planned, the loan should be paid off my April.  We will have Steve's though. :o(
Work at the YWCA is pretty busy right now.  I was actually awarded Employee of the Month for March.  I feel so proud. I have never gotten Employee of the Month before.
We are still looking for little ways to make extra money and cut our expenses.  We are bringing our lunches to work, instead of eating out, and have significantly cut down the amount that we eat at resturants.  Our car insurance bill came the other day and they still had us worked as "single", so I called them and had a little conversation with them.  They changed it to married and are refunding us for the over-payment of premiums for the last almost 3 years and lowered our monthly payment by $70 a month.  Woohoo!

15 Fresh Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

15 Fresh Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

• Pasta Lover's Lunch Salad.
  Pack a cold pasta salad and a plastic fork, and your pasta lover will love you, too! Make your salad with lean meat or low-fat cheese (so it has some protein), lots of vegetables to boost fiber and nutrition, and use a whole-grain blend pasta, like Barilla Plus. Then just drizzle some light vinaigrette over the top and toss.
• Pita Pocket Sandwich.
  Pack your whole-grain pita pocket with chicken Caesar salad, or any other lean meat or cheese filler mixed with vegetables and dark green lettuce.
• The Fruit and Cheese Plate Special.
  Make crispy cracker sandwiches with whole-wheat crackers, slices of assorted cheese, and lean meats. Don't forget the fruit, which goes nicely with the cheese and adds fiber and nutrition.
• Peanut Butter Fun Pack.
  Pack 1/8 cup of natural-style peanut butter, along with a plastic knife or spoon, wheat crackers, and celery sticks, and you have a peanut butter fun pack!
• Bagel With Cream Cheese, Please.
  Bagels are a wonderful foundation for hardy sandwiches that stand up to being in a backpack or locker all morning. You can toast a bagel in the morning and simply spread some light cream cheese in the middle. Or make a bagel sandwich with, say, a little light cream cheese, some turkey, and cranberry sauce, then top it off with alfalfa sprouts or Romaine lettuce.
• Carry a Cobb Salad.
  Plastic containers can hold the makings of a delicious salad lunch. Fill it with chopped green lettuce, chopped hard-boiled egg, light cheese, and/or lean ham. You can buy packets of light dressing, or just use extra packets of light salad dressing left over from your last trip to the fast-food chain.
• It's a Wrap!
  Wraps are a nice change of pace from the usual sandwich. Use one of the new higher-fiber tortillas, like the multigrain flour tortillas available in most supermarkets. Then fill 'er up with chicken Caesar salad or assorted lean meats, cheese, tomato, sliced onion, shredded Romaine lettuce, and light dressing. Just roll it up and wrap in foil.
• Noodle Soup Cups.
  Many schools offer a hot water dispenser so kids can add hot water to packaged noodle soup cups. Some brands are higher in sodium and fat, and lower in fiber than others. Check out the options in stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.
• Veggie Sushi.
  Not all kids will go for this one, but there are some out there who really like seaweed-wrapped sushi rolls. You can now buy pre-made sushi at many supermarkets, too. Choosing the veggie-filled sushi means there's no chance the sushi will get a little "fishy" while it's in your kid's backpack.
• Toss Some Taco Salad.
  If taco salad is a favorite, you can pack the meat mixture tossed with the shredded cheese, tomatoes, and chopped Romaine lettuce in a plastic container. At lunchtime, your child can add crunchy, reduced-fat tortilla chips and a little light dressing.
• Fried Rice Can Be Fun.
  When made with eggs or chopped lean ham and lots of veggies, cold fried rice can be a satisfying noontime treat. Make your own, or plan on leftovers the night before if you're ordering from a restaurant.
• Talk About Taquitos.
  I started doing this last year, and it seems to have stuck with my girls. I pop some Bean and Cheese frozen Taquitos from Whole Foods into my toaster oven in the morning, then let them cool. Then, I wrap them in foil and make sure they stay cool by packing a frozen juice box or small water bottle. By noon, they are cold, fun finger food.
• BBQ Chicken Sandwich.
  Your child can assemble a yummy BBQ grilled chicken sandwich fresh at lunchtime. Just pack a grilled, boneless, skinless chicken breast (you can make it in your indoor grill the night before) with some lettuce and sliced tomato in one baggie, and a whole-wheat bun in another. Add a packet of BBQ sauce to the lunch bag, and it's good to go.
• Meal Muffins.
  Certain types of muffins work as a lunch entrée. If you bake them over the weekend and keep them in the freezer, you just have to pull one or two out in the morning. By lunch, they are nicely chilled and ready to eat. Try ham and cheese muffins, Mexican Cornbread muffins, or quiche muffins (quiche filling, baked with or without crust in a muffin pan).
• Turkey Jerky.
  You can round off a lunch packed with fruit, vegetables, and maybe trail mix or crackers by adding some high-protein turkey jerky. I found a turkey at Trader Joe's that is made without nitrites, MSG, or artificial ingredients, and the turkey is raised without added hormones. Can't argue with that. A 2-ounce serving of turkey jerky contains: 120 calories, 22 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrate, 540 milligrams of sodium, and 20 milligrams of cholesterol.