Viva Las Vegas

Well, I'm off in just a matter of minutes. Unless I find someplace to access the internet while I'm there (other than the business center where we're staying, where it's $20/hr!) it'll be the end of the week before I type at you again. Later!

I get to write a drama about sex. That's right, I said SEX. For church. How cool is that? It's for the first week of the upcoming series, which lasts 5 weeks. The topics include:

• The Greatest Sex You'll Ever Have
• The Language of Lust
• Straight Talk for Men and Women (with guest Shaunti Feldhahn)
• What Happens in Vegas WON'T Stay in Vegas, and
• Porn: What's the Big Deal? (featuring Craig Gross from xxxchurch.com)

What's so exciting about this to me (aside from the obvious!) is that I'm so proud of how our church courageously faces the topics that are most relevant to our culture and will do what it takes to get the attention of a lost and hurting world and bring them into a saving knowledge of Jesus. The proof is in the billboard!

See, I told you it wouldn't be long

I just read my sister's blog again and couldn't help but laugh out loud, snort and all. Just had to share it with you:

one more thing. i called my grandpa tonight and he answered the phone,
"murphy's mule barn, head ass speaking." i laughed about that one for a long
time.

i report to the head ass,k

Catching Up

Ok, where to start?

• The kids and I did the food drop on Jan. 7. We helped unload semi trucks full of food, load box trucks, and deliver the food to area families in need. Every resident of government subsidized housing in our area received a box of food and a box of toiletries. The kids were a huge help! (most of the time)
• The kids went back to school on the 9th after a two week Christmas break. The transition was anything but smooth.
• I taught a couple of classes on Jan. 14, one on Jan. 17, and another one tonight. I'm teaching several more in the next couple of months, including a photography class - FUN!
• Katie's been gone for 3 weeks. You can keep up with her here.
• COREY MANN has some big things in the works...
• I almost went insane while Adam was out of town last week. I'm not meant to be without him.
• I haven't listened to Tim and Tony's podcast yet, but I fully intend to one of these days. (I soon as I figure out what a podcast is and how to work it!) I'm sure it's just as good as they've been telling me! ;)
• Speaking of Tim and Tony - had a nice chat with each of them this weekend - Tony at GCC and Tim on IM. They're really cool guys - very fun to just be around. Now I'm beginning to understand why Corey is so obsessed with TIM lately!
• I'm leaving for Vegas on Sunday for another SCRAPBOOKING trade show - woohoo!!
• My brother has some heavy things going on and could really use your prayers.
• Between my own and the McMullen's, I get to spend a good deal of time with the most awesome kids in the universe!
• The flip side of that: Abby pretty much skipped temper tantrum during the "terrible twos" phase of her life, and has decided to try them out at age 5. A number of people in the University Park Mall parking lot, the GCC parking lot, and throughout the GCC building (unfortunately for them) got to witness this spectacle. My apologies. Unfortunately for all of you, and for my adorable daughter, tantrums only strengthen my resolve.
• I'm starting to feel the blog thing again. It may not be too long before you hear from me again...

Silence

I haven't blogged anything in TEN days. You may think I've fallen off the face of the earth. I wondering that myself at the moment. Adam's been out of town for the last few days and I'm exhausted. I don't know how single parents do it. I couldn't. Adam gets back tomorrow. Not soon enough.

Abby Lost a TOOTH!!

Finally, the tooth fairy made a visit for ABBY!! We've been waiting for this one to come out for quite a while...it determined to hang in there as long as it could! However, a very helpful, trained dental hygienist (who doubles as one of Abby's All Stars teachers) "popped" it out after church last night. When I picked Abby up from her class, she was showing her teacher her loose tooth. The teacher said, "You know I work at a dentist office. I could help you with that." Abby let her "wobble" it, I gave the ok, they counted to 3, and POP, it was out!! She didn't even flinch! It bled a little bit, but her teacher showed her how to pack it with kleenex and Abby was off and skipping down the hallway, showing her new gap to anyone who would stop to look. She was exceptionally proud of herself, and very excited that the tooth fairy would be coming to give her a dollar. Little did she know that she'd be getting two! (I know, but it was Adam's idea...I was all for sticking with the quarter that I got as a kid!) Anyway, it was a very eventful and exciting night, and I was especially thrilled because I didn't have anything to do with it! Just wait until Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Styles see her at preschool tomorrow - Abby is beside herself in anticipation at being able to show them her gap!

Scrapbooking Thursday

My newest addition to my collection of DT projects. I was on Technique of the Month for December. You might be saying, "But December is over!" So, sue me. December was a little busy. The technique was heat embossing (and for those of you who don't know, that basically means using embossing powder and a heat gun to create different effects on your page). It's hard to see in the scan I've given you here, but the title, the subtitles and parts of the background paper have been embossed. I used Versamark ink pad and pen and clear embossing powder. The paper is Bo Bunny, the title letters are Heidi Swapp chipboard (painted blue, distressed and embossed) and the second page has various metal accents. Nothing terribly fancy, but very fun and one of my favorite projects I've done in a long time. Stop in to PIT sometime and see it in person - it'll look much better! Oh, in case you can't read them, the words read: "What are a boys dreams made of? (clockwise from top left) Noise, Fun, Passion, Strength, Messes, Adventure" I LOVE THESE PICTURES OF JACOB! They are SO him!!

We have returned!

Well, we're back to life as usual - work and all. There's nothing like a week off to make you think about how nice it would be to not have to go back. Ahhh, to win the lottery. Anyway, we had a great trip and were really glad to have the time away. The kids spent time in the pool everyday, and they were very reluctant to leave that luxury behind. Nothing like an 85 degree indoor pool all to yourself whenever you want it, not to mention the hot tub. Jacob has become quite a swimmer - he'll launch himself from the side of the pool into the water and swim to the nearest adult, or to the side of the pool - no floaties or anything! Abby is still flotation-device dependent, but basically fearless. She was begging Adam and I to "play catch" with her in the pool - using her as the "ball!" Adam would pick her up and throw her in my direction...under she'd go, I'd grab her arm (or whatever I could reach) and up she'd pop, giggling and spitting water. Amazing.

Our flight back from Omaha to Chicago was interesting. First of all, my cousin Jeff and his new bride Faith were on the same flight as us, so we all got to sit together. Unfortunately for Faith, she's terrified of flying and the first part of the experience was a little rough. She was very brave though - no screaming or cursing, just a little crying and some drinking - and she made it through ok, despite the fact that we had decent turbulence coming into Illinois. It was rough by my standards, so I'm sure Faith was having some serious doubts. Fortunately for all of us, we landed just before the hail storm hit Chicago - that could have been ugly.

Nothing like coming back from a week out of town, lugging 6 suitcases of dirty laundry, and having to go right to work the next day. Adam was great and did a huge amount of it on Tuesday (his last day off), but the house is a wreck. Something to look forward to for tomorrow, I guess.

Between Christmas, Adam's birthday, traveling on the 27th, constant activity during our visit, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding, New Year's, Abby and I coming down with Strep, swimming everyday, and the trip home...the last 10 days have been a flurry of activity. We have completely worn our kids out. They are probably going to be happy to have school start back up so they can get some rest! Jacob slept FIFTEEN HOURS the night we got home!! 5:30pm-8:30am!! I still can't believe it! I just wish I had a chance to do the same!