2011 was a great year. Matt and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary. We went to Denver, CO in June, and Minnesota in October. After we returned from our lovely Colorado trip we adopted a wonderful dog, Maggie. She is a German Shepherd mix and loves to talk and cuddle. My Grandma Lilia passed away and went to be with Jesus. Matt is enjoying his new job and I am in my 3rd year interpreting.

I stopped going to the gym around September, so we canceled by membership to LA Fitness. I joined to be able to use their swimming pool, but it was either being used for classes or having maintenance done. And when I did get a chance to get in, it was cloudy and had tons of hair balls floating around. Gross. I tried to lift weights, but I didn’t have a plan. I used the stationary bicycles and treadmills, but that gets old fast. I went to some of the classes like spinning and Zumba, but it was boring going by myself and too hard to coordinate with friends to go. I bought my own yoga mat thinking I would love yoga, but I only liked one of the instructors and she taught during the week in the middle of the day. So, without a plan I did nothing for a few months. But I have a New Years resolution that should get me off the computer.

This plan involves chance.

I would get so bored doing the same thing over again or try to get out of doing something I knew would be a tough work out.

So I devised a plan that would never get boring nor would I have any clue what the next work out would be. Win, win. I am doing something rather than nothing. Win, win, win. And I won’t feel guilty eating so much now. Win, win , win, win.

So here it is:

Laps:

Roll 1,2 = 1 lap     Roll 3, 4 = 2 laps      Roll 5,6 = 3 laps

Push ups:

Roll = # x 3 sets

Crunches:

Roll x 5 = # x 3 sets

Lunges (each leg):

Roll x 5 = # x 3 sets

Plank:

Roll x 10 = # seconds x 3 sets

Hope this inspires you to get fit this year!

Rachel

I miss you and love you both!

Bethany and Josh got hitched in March, and I am finally publishing some of the goodies I made for their wedding.

You will see:

- verses on the side of the vases I stamped.

- a ring bearer pillow.

- customized catchphrase.

- helped making the bouquets.

God bless you, Bethany and Josh!

I truly had an amazing time at VBS:

- meeting a lot of great people who attend NWBC,

- Serving the church by being a guide for our VBS “Big Apple Adventure,”

- Connecting and sharing my love for Jesus with some awesome 3rd grade girls,

- And making fun barrettes for my girls throughout the week.

Monday: The pink pom-pom. I Heart VBS.  Theme: Connect with Faith!   Verse: So faith comes from what is heard and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. Romans 10:17

Tuesday: Heart barrette. Tourist day camera. Theme: Connect with Love! Verse: We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Wednesday: Green and Orange barrette. Wacky Hair day. Theme: Connect with Trust! Verse: For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Thursday: Blue barrettes with matching small blue barrette to share with a friend. Backwards day. Theme: Connect with Others! Verse: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

Friday: Rope barrettes. Dress to get wet day. Theme: Connect with Life! Verse: Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong. Your every action must be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Thank you to all the people who made VBS 2011 happen!

Something that is meaningful, loving and showing respect….

Something that has no price, but worth a lot…

A gift from the heart. Here is my gift, from my heart, to the men who God has put into my life. I am so blessed to have a loving and amazing father, a caring and wonderful father-in-law, and to remember special moments with 2 grandfathers.

My father, Grant, is one amazing man. He is the most generous man I have ever met. He “gives, and he gives and he gives.” He gives his time, love, and friendship. He loves to give, and he does it well. He loves well, too. Growing up he traveled quite a bit, but he was always there for me. He was always playing with GG and I; making us laugh, scaring us in the dark, tickling us and inventing fun games to play in the house. And even though I do not live at home anymore, I still feel this way. He is always here for me, taking care of me. Always ready. Always loving. Always. (Thanks daddy ) My dad loves to travel, and has brought us to many wonderful places around this world; Denmark, Hawaii, Cayman Islands, Canada and many of the States. He lives life to the fullest and brings us all along for the ride (specially if he is riding his Harley). To a certain extent, I have always thought of my dad as somewhat like James Bond. There is no where we couldn’t go, nothing we couldn’t do. No limits, just fun and enjoyment. Thank you, daddy, for loving and working so hard to make life really really enjoyable and fun!

My father-in-law, Steve, is an awesome man of God. He is so helpful and loving in how he takes care of his family, and Matt and I. Whether it is taking care of my plants when we are out of town, or installing ceiling fans in our new home; he is always willing to lend a hand. And he takes special care of me, as well as his family. I will never forget how Steve baked chicken for me when he knew I didn’t like the char of grilled chicken (Thanks!). And he makes delicious smoothies for Anna and I, even when everyone else is too full. Steve takes special care of not only his family, but friend around him as well. He gives his time to Sunday school teaching and other jobs at church. He is always willing to give his time to those who need it. Thank you, Steve, for taking care of us so well.

Grandfathers have a very special place in my heart. My grandpa, Vic, passed away when I was quite young (age 7?) but I remember knowing I was loved. I knew I had a special place in his heart too. My grandpa, Bopsy, passed away when I was in high school and I remember having a lot in common with him. I know he used to do synchronized swimming, he tap danced and loved to be goofy. He gave a lot of great traits to my father, like being able to make someone feel really special and beautiful. My favorite thing about him was that he kissed me on the nose when saying hello or goodbye, or for any reason at all. That I remember the most. I knew I was beautiful in his eyes and he loved me dearly. I miss them both.

Thank you, Grant, Steve, Vic and Bopsy for showing me unconditional love, kindness, and generosity.

My mom is the most awesome person I know. Her food is the best. She can make anything. She gives the most amazing gifts. She is loving, caring, understanding and strong. She is just wonderful.  She is funny (only after she met my father, as my father says…), witty, clever and sarcastic. She is like the best of Martha Stewart and Rosie the Riveter. I love being her daughter and friend.

Growing up I can only remember being upset with my mom for making me clean my room. Period. And that is when I was a teenager. Other than that, we always had fun in our household, thanks be to my mom, dad and brother.

I got to experience a wonderful generation dynamic growing up. We moved in with my Grandma Suzie (Mom’s mom) when my brother and I were young. Looking back on those years, it was great to experience living with my grandma. She was funny, smart and loving. And although she had what we thought was dimensia later on, she was always wonderful to be around and to hear stories of my mom and her siblings growing up. My mom was a great care giver for her mom and I really appreciate all that my mom and dad did for her.

The Martha Stewart aspect of my mother: She can sew, create, make, do, put together, design, and mass produce anything. ANYTHING. She made my wedding dress. She made all/most of my dance costumes growing up. She made all of the novelty costumes for the dance company I danced with. She made clothes for my brother and I in our younger years, and some now. She can do just about anything.

She makes the best spaghetti sauce in the world. I also love her mad cookie decorating skills, and general dessert skills too. She knows all my favorites and makes them when I see her. Everything she makes is always tasty delicious.

She can throw a bail of hay really far. She used to ride horses, so of course my brother and I did growing up too. And she made matching costumes for our horses on halloween. Epic.

My mom really knows how to shop. She is always sending me gifts (which I love) of anything from a news article she knew I would like to clothes, kitchen gadgets or a Christmas Lego Town set for Christmas (for Matt and I) . She knows how to love me (us) well.

The Rosie the Riveter aspect of my mom: She used to make stained glass windows. She can make furniture and upholster it. She knows how to use chainsaws and other tools. She can do anything.

My mom is beyond awesome. Thank you for everything I love you!

Sometimes in life I feel rather gloomy. I use the word gloomy because it is also a term used for weather. And weather changes all the time, just like life. I am not always gloomy. It is not always gloomy outside. It can be sunny (which happens a lot in Arizona) or rainy or cloudy or a lot of other things. And most days I feel like a warm sunny day. I feel really really happy.

But sometimes when my imagination runs away with thoughts of fear, sadness and no hope, I become rather gloomy. And before I knew I could call on the name of Jesus, I stayed gloomy for long periods of time. And before I knew I could ask people to pray for me, I stayed gloomy for long periods of time. And before I tried to fix my gloomy-ness myself.  It never really worked. And as much as I like to fix things myself, and for others, I can’t truly get out of my gloomy-ness unless Jesus is there to help me. And He is always here to help.

I asked Jesus to help me out of my gloomy-ness yesterday. 2 friends of mine prayed for me. And these verses were so powerful when I felt gloomy.

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Psalm 95

¹ Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.³ For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
⁷ for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
⁸ “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,^[a]
as you did that day at Massah^[b] in the wilderness,
⁹ where your ancestors tested me;
they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
¹⁰ For forty years I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
¹¹ So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Psalm 95

¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.   Colossians 3:16

²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Psalm 73: 26

²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73: 28

Also, praising God through song, is truly a way to get my mind centered on the One who matters.  I love the song, Blessed be your name . By Matt Redman.

I hope this helps you when you feel gloomy.

I am so glad I married a man who lives loves hockey as much as I do. Recently, we have been combining our love for hockey and our love for food. We started going to La Piazza al Forno a few months ago as our place to eat in Glendale before a Coyotes game. We love La Piazza al Forno because of their Neapolitan brick oven pizzas (which I fell in love with in MN, Punch Neapolitan Pizza).  There are a few Neapolitan pizza places in Tucson, but not this good. I would definetly suggest you try La Piazza al Forno.

We also tried, most recently, Haus Murphy’s (a German restaurant and another Diners, Drive-ins and Dives hit right next to La Piazza al Forno in Glendale).  I had their Hühner (Chicken) Schnitzel, and Matt tried their Jäger Schnitzel. I had never in my life, as I can remember, tasted Schnitzel, and it was pretty tasty. The sauce was a bit rich after a while, but tasty non-the-less. For you people who don’t know what Schnitzel is, it is breaded and sautéed meat (can’t go wrong!).  And their german potato salad on the side was good too. For German food, it was good

Babies! So many people are having babies! Cute, cuddly and adorable….. and great for inspiration! Meghan and Jared recently had her baby. I made some custom-made baby gifts for them! Happiness!

Their bundle of joy inspired me to make some cute felt stuffed animals. My first attempt was an owl, for their nature themed nursery. And then I just got a little more creative once I figured out the engineering of 3D stuffed animals. Hope you enjoy and get inspired!