A week at Topsail Beach

Click below to see more pics of our trip:
http://www.slide.com/r/hiQXh76f7D-Fx5vgpLbhEkKNUYfznl7u?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

We just recently returned from a week at Topsail Beach in North Carolina with Josh's family. Despite the initial threat of a tropical storm and the fact that this beach is ranked in the top 10 for shark attacks...we had a GREAT time! The tropical storm diminished way out in the ocean so our weather was just about perfect for being at the beach every day. As far as the danger in the waters...well I think the risk of sand mites was higher.

I personally enjoyed walking on the beach each morning after waking up. It was great to hear the waves, feel the sand under my feet and enjoy a good hunt for some unique sea shells.  My favorite day was the day I finally decided I could go out in the water further than my calves. Most of the days the waves were pretty big and the undertow was strong so I avoided going swimming. Not to mention that the whole shark thing did linger in my mind. However, on my favorite day, the water was more calm and clear. I went out pretty far with Josh and we saw dolphins out in front of us about 50 feet or so. That was awesome! Also on my favorite day we went to a homemade Popsicle shop. I ate a pistachio pop dipped in milk chocolate with almonds. It was tasty. I need to figure out how to make some of these at home:)

Josh enjoyed swimming and doing so very far out in the water. He also got a kick out of doing many other beach activities other than swimming. He tried boogie boarding and another type of boarding where you move across the water close to the beach. He threw a football, built sand castles, flew a kite or two, let the kids bury his legs in the sand, surf fishing, shell searching, sand crab catching and he even let me take a few pictures of him.

Of our many walks on the beach, walking under the moonlight was a fun night together. It was low tide and their were crabs everywhere. We had flashlights, but the moonlight was almost bright enough to not need them. It's trickier at night to find the original spot you accessed the beach. We managed to find our way back after a couple crabs ran over Josh's feet.

We enjoyed the time spent with family catching up on each others lives, making memories together and relaxing. Thanks for Melissa, Eric and Mike we were able to play some board games as well:) I always like that no matter when I am. Unfortunately, Mike had recently broken his hand so he was in a cast, but that didn't stop him from having a good time at the beach. That's what a baggie and duct tape or good for:) The kids were so much fun at the beach and the cottage. Melissa took some great pictures of the kids at the beach. Uncle Josh had fun showing them the crabs he caught and playing in the sand with them. Maddie and Hannah were especially helpful in finding shells for me along with their own stash. Charlie really liked playing in the sand at the beach and I'm sure he would have been catching crabs with Eric and Josh had he been big enough to hang through the slats on the boardwalk with the net (lol). Thanks for Dad and Mom Moore for making this trip happen for all of us! They made a delicious surf & turf meal one night and one night they brought stuff to make s'mores over the grill.

Until next time Topsail Beach!

CU Reunion

My roommates and friends from college become a second family for me.  I've had the chance to see a few at a time on different occasions in the past 7 years, however, it was time to get us all together again.  We had the chance to spend the weekend together at the end of July in Grand Rapids.  We spent time catching up on each others lives and sharing our favorite stories from college.  A good game of balderdash, a picnic at Riverside park, BBQ and a meal at Steak & Shake were some of the things we enjoyed over the weekend.

I had two favorite moments from the weekend. The first was walking through Cornerstone's campus and reminiscing as well as seeing the changes on campus.

I also really enjoyed walking on the bike path to the ice cream shop in Rockford. Our line of traffic on the bike path was pretty long and eating ice cream outside the shop in downtown was a great way to have someone get a full group shot off all of us.

I am so blessed to have friends that are like family and to be able to pick up where we last left off together. I thank the Lord for each one of you and for the chance to share a weekend together.  May He bless you each in the next years to come until we can get together again.  You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Thiensville Family Fun Before the 4th Day

We've been learning that our small village of Thiensville actually manages to have quite a variety of events in the summer. Apparently each year they have a day called "Family Fun Before the 4th" We enjoyed a parade, water ski show on the Milwaukee River and fireworks in the evening. It was great to be able to walk to everything. So I definitely got my exercise because I walked to and from all three events at different times of the day. Josh joined me for the parade and the fireworks.

The "Dancing Grannies" were a classic

Concordia Universities Mascot

The water ski show was a lot of fun. The show wasn't perfect there were falls and an injury that stopped the show (everyone was okay). But regardless, it was really fun to watch the pyramids get higher and higher.

Mom's Afghan

I crocheted my mom an afghan for a Mother's Day/Birthday present. I have been slowly working on it since November. When I wasn't working I figured I had plenty of time on my hands to start a big project and I hadn't been crocheting in a few years. I wanted to learn some new crochet stitches and how to make a some new things. Awhile ago, I posted the handbag and wristlet I crocheted for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Those were something new I learned to crochet.

So for my mom's afghan I used a basket weave stitch, which was very easy to learn and crochet. I loved the outcome. The basket weave stitching made it very easy to keep the edges straight which is something I have a hard time doing using other stitches. I used a green yarn to match the living room that my mom had recently finished decorating, painting and updating.

I love you MOM!

May Goal and Memorial Day Weekend

I enjoyed accomplishing my goal for May to send an encouraging note to someone each day. It's been great to reconnect with friends this year. I've always enjoyed sending cards, writing cards, making cards...and so May was a joy in many ways.

Memorial Day weekend was a great and relaxing weekend for Josh and I. We enjoyed the outdoors and captured moments of the wildlife living around us. We walked through the seminary property that is next to our place. It is beautiful and the home of many neighboring deer. Actually on the way out the door to start our walk over to the seminary a deer walked out in front of us on our road and was going up to other apartment buildings eating the bushes by their windows. Then we followed him over to the seminary property where he probably calls home. We saw more deer in the woods in their typical location and Josh was able to get pretty close for a good photo of one of them. We crossed the creek (Josh across a big log, me across the bridge at the road:) We love the woodsy area that we live in!

We went to a BBQ on Sunday with our young marrieds small group. What a blessing it is to be connected with so many new friends. It was nice that so many couples and families could make it. On Monday we went to the Thiensville Memorial Day Parade (that took up about 10 minutes of our day, lol!) But, it was beautiful outside, finally, and it was nice to take a walk down main street.

What a great weekend to spend with Josh enjoying our home and small town:) 

April Goal: Memorize 10 Bible Verses

My goal for April was to memorize 10 bible verses. I did not fulfill the entire goal, however, I am glad to say that I did memorize 7 verses (2 single verses and one grouping of verses from Proverbs that was 5 total verses for the section).

Here they are from memory:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord not men.”

–Colossians 3:23

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, and of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

“She is clothed with dignity and power and she laughs at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and she does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also; he praises her, ‘Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Proverbs 31:25-30

I am still working on memorizing the other verses. Now for May’s goal to send an encouraging note to someone each dayJ

Easter 2011

 These are some of my favorite pictures from Easter 2011. Thankful for family and our Risen Savior!

 Maddie took this picture of Josh and I...budding photographer:)