whew!

Moving...just the mere word right now makes me weak.

I look around and see the boxes slowly start to dwindle...however, the boxes & lack of organization for this teacher (as well as husband) is beginning to unnerve me :)

We have been in prayer mode regarding a potential job change for Arlan for about a year and a half and just this past spring we felt the doors opening fully to resign from Pekin High to accept a position at Watershed Foods in Gridley. Arlan had been at Pekin High for 10 years and felt that the time for our family to make a switch was now. It was a hard decision and not one taken lightly...education is safe & comfortable...it's what Arlan's known for over 10 years and what I've known for 9. Yet, we felt a constant pulling to challenge ourselves & thus enter the business world. We have always respected Lifesong for Orphans (a non-profit orphan advocacy group) in Gridley and wanted to get involved somehow at a closer level. Watershed Foods is a great way to indirectly be involved as it provides a small percentage of it's annual income to support Lifesong. So the better Watershed does, the more it supports orphans! Arlan will be part of the production & process management team...translation = problem solving less efficient areas of food production, making details behind visions happen & making processes run smoother (if this doesn't sound like it's tailor made for my husband, I'm not sure what is!). It will be a HUGE learning curve for him, for us, and Watershed.

We will miss our small condo in Morton...the memories of first being newlyweds, coming home from teaching full days at Pekin High, the many family & friends who we hosted, and bringing our little bundle of joy home for the first time...yet, our new home is also ready for new memories.

Thanks for your thoughts & prayers this past 1-2 weeks-we've felt extremely blessed.

our first home, purchased in June of 2006...don't we look SO young!?


cutting our cake~July 30, 2006

bringing our little girl home~Nov. 3, 2009

catching a little Dragon football after a LONG week of homecoming activities~Fall 2008

our new home~May 2011

Friday's Funny-praying

Haven's new friends

Memorial Day was a big day for our Punkers as she met two new friends, Greyson & Ellie.
She didn't show much interest right away, but after a few minutes in, she was smiling & smooching on them! These children have no choice but to be good friends, so they may as well start liking each other now :)

It was great being with you Knapps...thanks for a fun Memorial Day!

Friday's Funny - who needs playground equipment?

So all one really needs is a stair case & a playful toddler who finds joy in the small things!
Haven ~ you are such a delight!

last GBS...for me :(

About 2 years ago, my husband challenged me that I needed to start a girl's Bible study.
He knows that while I read my Bible & prayerfully apply it daily, I am a social creature who enjoys the time spent with & organizing groups of friends...thus GBS [Girl's Bible Study] was born.

This past Monday was my last get together as these lovely ladies will be replacing me once my family & I make our transition to the Bloomington/Normal area.

I will miss you each ladies & you have blessed me abundantly in your wisdom, time & desire to honor God & obey Him.

On the left: Taryn Kaiser & Leah Zimmerman
On the right: myself & Holly Levy
Tracy [Zimmerman] Bucher also used to be part of our gang before her move to Indiana.

showering Lindsay

Over a month ago (pathetic I'm just getting around to it, I know!), some friends hosted a shower for our Lindsay. It was SO neat to get many of us together from IL, MN, IN & even Jamaica...many of us who haven't seen each other since we either roomed together during college, working days or ran around in young group!

We enjoyed catching up, yummy food, and of course, showering Linds with lots of great gifts for her upcoming wedding in July. It was extra special to have her Mom & sister, Erika, with us for the night as well.

Congratulations girl & best wishes as your big day approaches!

Back: Janel Wiegand, Jessie Esterling, Andria Sprunger, Erika Gramm, Alesa Bahler
On the couch: Keri Plattner, Jolynn Hodel, Holly Levy, Kendra Knapp (soon to be Dohman!) & Lindsay Gramm (soon to be Montana!)

On left [not pictured above]: Heidi Rinkenberger, holding Alesa's Ellie

two darling babies whot attended the party:
Kendra, holding Jolynn's little Landry & Holly, holding Alesa's little Ellie.

so Keri's sister Kasey couldn't make it to the shower, but that didn't stop her from calling us to get a run down of who was all there & what Linds received for gifts...
basically, what Kasey (aka Ms. Life of the Party) was missing out on!

final Robin game night - of course!

Last Friday night we had a few faithful friends over who have given us many laughs over the last five years here at our condo in Morton...yep, our Final Game night on Robin Ave (more to come on why that is in a future post!).

Rich, Jackie, Josh, Kent, Holly & Taryn...thanks so much for coming and giving us many laughs.

We enjoyed catching up, snacking on yummy food, and got in several games (of course!) including a game of croquet (on a an absolutely bee-u-tiful night!), Apples to Apples, and much to my husband's dismay, a few rounds of Speed Uno.

Such great times...

Haven, of course, wanting to get in on the action as well :)

Haven, of course, LOVED all the attention she was showered with!

Kent in the er, bunker?!

our game of Speed UNO...no winner although Holly & Kent were doing quite well.

and last, but not least, Taryn, of course, got several great shots of Haven!