WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHY

Hello again blogging world! Who am I to act like I took an intentional break? That is not necessarily the case, for I am just going through a dry spell. Hopefully some of the summer events will make for some interesting blog posts. I may use the template of WHO, WHERE, WHAT, & WHY in the future as well. It gives me a good foundation of randomocity. 

WHO is that one person that you have always looked up too, or WHO is that one person that has always given more than they have ever taken. For me it is my sister Rachel. She is someone that I have always admired, and I wish I had only a percent of her patience.

Both my sister and I celebrate our anniversaries in May. Rachel hit the 11 year mark of marriage recently, and I once again realized that I have always been about 10 years behind her in several stages of life. At times I wished that we were closer in age, but then I think about where I might be without her wonderful example over the years.

Rachel has always inspired me with her heart for the down-and-outers, those who really are in need of a friend. It is as if those type of people are attracted to her kind, sweet self. She is one of the most selfless individuals that I know. Maybe having 5 young children improves the 'selfless' trait, but even before she had kids, others always came first for her. I could endlessly go on about my special sister, but I'll save some of her amazing qualities for another time. She is a sincere blessing to me.

WHERE is that place that has stolen a portion of your heart? The place that you long to visit again. That place for me would be Haiti. Never before has a mission trip left such a major impact on me. I felt like God really moved in my heart that December of 2012. I got so much more out of the experience than I had given in return. I cannot wait to travel down to Haiti with my husband or maybe family one day in the future. I had better get that passport updated.

I love this picture that Madison took. The picture reminds me of the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children," and how it goes 'red and yellow, black or white, Jesus loves the children of the world.'

WHAT was your biggest disappointment of the week? Although it is a bit childish, for some reason I am still dwelling on it, which means that it must have affected me. 

Frequently we have drug representatives come in to our office. They are usually wanting to speak with the doctor or explain the updated information on a medication that they are soliciting. This past Tuesday, as I greeted the drug rep., he presented a box of donuts to me. Since it was right before lunch, I could not have been happier. He explained that this certain type of donut is on the list of the 'Top 33 Donuts You Must Eat Before You Die.' Which is actually true, there really is such a list. The donuts were cinnamon caramel flavored and had come from an Amish bakery near Shipshewana, IN. They looked much more mouth-watering that the lower picture displays, especially at 11:30 in the morning. 

I willingly accepted them until I realized that my health-conscious doctor was not a supporter of accepting such a gift. The doctor that I work for is committed to helping individuals lose weight and he runs a Bariatric (weight-loss) clinic two days per week. He teaches his patients about how to count calories and how to eat right. To him, accepting such a gift, was going against all that he taught and believed in. 

He instructed me to give the donuts back. I hesitantly did so, much to my dismay. It is becoming more and more apparent how determined of a sweet tooth I really do have. It's time I learn some discipline when it comes to heavenly, sugary sweets....well....maybe some day. Who am I kidding, it probably won't happen until it absolutely has too. It was honestly a struggle to accept that I could not indulge in such a treat.  

Maybe the donuts would not have been as delicious as they looked, but I am convinced to track down that bakery and find out for myself. Rise' n Roll Bakery here I come. Next time I am in Shipshewana, you can expect me as a customer. 

WHY were the little ones (in the picture below) so intrigued with Audrey's phone. First of all, Audrey is wonderful with children, so she really does not need a phone to attract kids. Secondly, I do not have the best selection of toys, but I think kids are just fascinated by technology and/or expensive toys such as i-phones, cameras, tablets, ect. 

Audrey, Breana, and Krista came out for lunch a couple weeks ago.
It was fun to have Chardon (K's) and Jake (B's) along too.

Speaking of technology, I like to think of myself as a fairly competent person when it comes to technology. Although, yesterday I really began to wonder. When it takes you 3 minutes to fill up two cups of water at a fast-food restaurant, that is when you begin to wonder if there is an issue. I have a feeling that these touch-screen pop dispensers scare off some of the elderly aged people.

All I wanted were two simple cups of water, I was even willing to give up the ice. Is that really too much to ask? I have conquered these machines before, but yesterday I was faced with a much more complex dispenser than normal. There were four categories of drinks on the main screen. I attempted to decipher which category water might be under. I went for the "no calorie drinks" category. There were 3-4 various types of water, but no plain water. Sparkling water is about the last thing that sounded appealing.

Once a line began to form, I was beginning to get really frustrated. Nate had just about devoured his first sandwich, and here I was struggling to draw from the well of touch-screen water. I let the lady, standing behind me, go ahead and get here drink. I humbled myself and asked her for some guidance, but she did not know where the water was either. 

Eventually I clicked back to the home screen and located a small tab, approximately 75% smaller than the other drink tabs, placed in the lower left corner. It read "WATER!" I have never been so happy to see water flow from a dispenser.

I now have a bit more sympathy for my parents who have had their share of technology questions in the past and maybe in the present too. I guess I am not there to know or help any longer.

I hope you enjoyed the first of my (hopefully many) WHO, WHERE, WHAT, and WHY's. Maybe next time I will add a WHICH to go along with it.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, no matter WHO you're with, nor WHERE you are, or WHAT you may be doing, or WHY you are doing it. I hope it is fabulous!

Anniversary Weekend: 1 Year, We Did It!!

I always wondered what kind of man I would marry one day. What type of guy does God have in store for me?, I would ask myself. I should not have wasted time worrying, for God's thoughts and ways are so much higher than our own.

I did not expect to be 20 years old before I would ever meet him, but that was the timing that God had ordained. 

There is such beauty in the mystery of a faith marriage, not to mention all the blessings that come with it, but it is not always easy. Faith is definitely the key word.

Monday marked a year of marriage for us. A year of really getting to know each other. A year of working to blend two completely different lives together. A year of wonderful memories made. A year of growth.

I have heard from some married couples that the first year of married life has potential to be the hardest of all. I guess I don't know, since I have nothing to compare it too. We have had the expected rough patches that come along with any marriage, but God has proven himself so faithful. I can honestly admit that the hard times have bonded us closer as man and wife.

Last weekend, we went on a two day getaway to Potawatami State Park in honor of our anniversary. The weather was beautiful and the lack of people must have meant that we hit it right before busy season.

The Potawatami Inn is nestled on the shores of Lake James. No, we did not stare at the water the whole time, although it was beautiful to look across the lake. We went bike riding and explored the trails, played some of our favorite games that we had brought along, went shopping for as long as my husband could stand (about 45 minutes), supported the local restaurants pretty faithfully, and just enjoyed each other's company.

To top it all off, Nate even brought me home to Bluffton on Sunday. Not much more I could have asked for. 

We got together at my sister's house, for Mother's day, on Sunday night.

The kids (and grown-ups too, of course) helped in breaking in the new trampoline.

What a cute group of little people. They are growing faster than I can keep up with.

I finally have a little extra room in my freezer now. We enjoyed our year-old wedding cake and some sparkling cider for dessert on Monday. The cake was surprisingly delicious, even after a year, moist too.

That is about all I have to inform you of. Just sitting here waiting for my hubby to get home from work so we can go on our Friday date night. I am so blessed to have him as my husband. 

I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars

He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars

Love you Babe!

Recent Happenings & Projects

April has been a busy month for Nate and I. A little more than two weeks ago we said goodbye to Nate's grandpa, Eli. What an amazing example of faith Grandpa was to his 14 children and spouses, 70 grandchildren and their families, and to numerous others.

I am so thankful for the time that I had to know Eli. Grandpa was a frequent patient at the doctor's office in which I work. I never knew that the day I wheeled Grandpa over to the emergency room that it would only be about a month later that he would receive his eternal home in heaven.

The morning that Grandpa passed away, I could see the look of sadness on my doctor's face, as he walked into the office that day. My doctor explained to me that from the time that he first med Eli, he could tell that there was something different and special about him. Grandpa shined his light wherever he went. I doubt he knew what kind of an impact he made on his family physician, but maybe he realizes it now. An impact that this doctor wants to pass on to his daughters. I thought that was pretty special.

Not only has April included a funeral, but also a cousin's wedding and the birth of a nephew. Those are about the three most major events in the life of an individual, minus a personal relationship and commitment to the Lord.

I am really looking forward to meeting my new nephew, Coy Matthew Fiechter. Congratulations to Lance, Sara, Maeley, and Tessa! They are now a family of five. Have you ever been lonely for somebody that you have never met? That is how I feel about Coy. The other day as I picked out a gift for him, I pictured the boy that he is going to grow up to be one day. Will he be as pesky to his sisters as his father was towards me, but then realize how boring life would be without older siblings. As I asked about him, during my conversation with mom today, I got lonely for him again. What a sweet bundle.

credits: photo from Sara's fb page

Coy was born the same day as Grandpa's funeral. It reminded me of how Job says "the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." No matter what the circumstances may be, we are called to praise the Lord's name. Easier to say than do, if you ask me.

Now, to my most recent projects. I got the motivation to finally tackle another bedroom with my painting supplies. After a month of looking at these navy paint samples splotched on this wall, I decided it was time. The decision between the three samples became evident the moment I brushed them on that wall. 

Doing a bold, dark color scared me a little bit. It isn't in my personality, especially since I like to play the color scheme safe and stick with pastels and neutrals. Oh, but the talk around google is that "navy" is a very popular color right now. The things I do, trying to be with the "in" crowd.

I admit that the room looks better. I wouldn't say that I am "in love" with it, but maybe with a few throw pillows on the bed, the room will continue to grow on me.

Next project on the list: pain the trim white. The brown trim just isn't working, not up against those navy walls at least.

I managed to wipe the dust off of the sewing machine yesterday. An expert sewer, I am not, but I can handle curtain valances. It was actually sort of refreshing to spend some time sewing. I enjoyed it.

I am thinking that I might add something to the bottom of the valances yet. Hmmm

Hope you enjoyed the update. Nate asked me, on Tuesday, how long it had been since I last updated my blog. "It's been a while," I replied. Glad I have him to keep me on track.

Happy Thursday Everybody!

Living the "Norm"- House Before/After Pictures

"So what is new with you?" she asked, on our 15 minute drive to school. This was the question that my high- school aged neighbor girl asked as I drove her to school the other morning. 

Umm....well.....let me think. "You know, not a lot of new things are going on in my life lately," I responded. I really tried to think of something exciting to share with her, but nothing came to mind.

I began asking myself, do I really lead that boring of a life? Not boring, but maybe somewhat uneventful right now. I like uneventful, and sometimes I can get too comfortable in that type of life. Unfortunately God does not call us to lead a comfortable life, and I have to keep that in mind.

I am living in the everyday "norm" as I like to call it, and I  do not mind the "norm" whatsoever. The "norm" is what I longed for a year ago, when I was less than a month away until my wedding. I honestly wondered, at that point, if I would ever feel as comfortable in Ohio as I had in Indiana.

Nate told me, when we were first engaged, that we were going to work at creating a new normal (or "norm"). It took some time, but I am officially there and have been for a while. Buying a nice, cozy house has also played a factor in creating even more of a "norm" for me. I guess that is what I will write about...yep...more about our house.

A few people have been asking how our house is coming along. Things are going a little slower than I had hoped, as far as painting and decorating. After painting room #6, all of which were various sizes, I decided that I needed to take about a month off and rejuvenate. Now that I have not painted for a couple weeks, I am wondering if I will ever get back to it. The uncurtained windows and paint-swatched walls will just have to wait, because this girl has lost all motivation for painting.

I really enjoy before and after pictures and thought I would share a few with you. Although we did not do anything major, you will hopefully see a notable change.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Living Room #1 Before

Living Room #1 After

Main Living Room Before

Main Living Room After

If you have followed my couch experience, I would like to inform you that it has officially arrived. It is actually quite large for two people. Nate and I look a little bit shrimpy sitting on it, just the two of us.

When Ken's Furniture delivered the couch, they even rewarded me with a beautiful rose to thank us for our business. I have been nothing but impressed with them. 

Main Bathroom Before

Main Bathroom After

I do want to document who our first over-night company was in our new house. You never know when a person might need to remember such things. Might be best if I chart it.

It has been three weeks ago already, but they officially made the house company-proof. Thank you Seth, Blaine, Brooke, and Tianne for coming out to see us. They came to see Shelby too, of course. We were also glad to have Doug join us on Sunday.

Now that we have a giant couch, we won't make you sit on folding chairs any more.

Thank you for clicking over to my blog. It has been exciting for us to see our home come together, and to see the pieces of the puzzle fit together. I am excited to put the finishing pieces in place.

Blessings to you all!

A Short Poem About Two Friends

First off, if your name is Brooke Rachelle Fiechter, you can calmly push the X at the upper right-hand corner of your screen. This is meant to be a surprise for your scrapbook. I am hoping that her engaged life and the busyness that comes with planning a wedding will distract her from my blog for a while. Then again her curiosity can get the best of her at times. I may not be able to stop her, but at least I have tried. 

As I worked on her scrapbook page today, I tried reaching for that poetic side of my brain. I am no great song nor poem writer like Henry Beer, although he is my double great great uncle. Unfortunately not a whole lot of his poetic inspiration trickled down to me. 

Here goes my valiant effort at coming up with a poem about Brooke and I.

There once were two girls who were mutually fond.

Raised in good families, with parents so kind.

Pranks, fun, and seriousness were all part of their bond,

And then God revealed what was really in mind.

“Goodbye Indiana, we have met our fate.

God has chosen our husbands, and we will follow His will.”

So off they went to the Buckeye State,

Not knowing, but trusting that all would be chill.

A book I could write on the memories we share,

But the basics have been covered and now it is time,

For my Cookie to be placed into Doug’s loving care.

Enjoy being married, and with God at your side, 

I think you will find marriage a blessing sublime.

Looking forward to June 21st!