What Iowans Do For Fun In The Fall.

WE PLAY IN CORN!!!

A Random Lil' Photoshoot

John and Sarah

This morning the seven of us kids woke up at the crack of 4 am to head off for the Eastern Iowa Airport where John McCain and Sarah Palin were speaking.  We arrived at 6 am and proceeded to stand for five solid hours.  It was well worth the wait, hunger pains, thirstiness, and exaustion for the front row standing room we got.  Each of us got to shake Mr. McCain's hand and would have gotten to Mrs. Palin if the over-protective dark-glasses-dudes wouldn't have taken her the other direction.  

Regardless, we had a fun time watching history unfold before our very eyes.  Let's keep praying as we have only 47 days left before the election!!

Huddling for a little warmth...



Waiting...

Their here!!!
This girl's a little fireball!  (And she calls her husband the 'First Dude' of Alaska! :P

This is how close we got!!
And here's the hands that shook his! ;P

Brave Cuteness

*Don't they look like they should be on a cd cover?! :P  (This is a roof by the way... thus the bravery)

Operation 'Office McDonalds'

In search of any location with wireless internet so my new jobs can be accomplished, I have decided McDonalds is a great place for the newest Bring Me Hope office.  With food, drink and climbing toys for when I get bored, what more could a girl want?!

Welcome to my pad!  :P

Old Maidhood

So as we may have mentioned multiple times before, Tiff and I are housesitting for going on two weeks now.  It has been fun trying out 'Old Maidhood' ... and we're having fun doing it -- at the moment that is.  (Preferably not permenantly)

Here's what happened around the big house today.

Tiffany texting and feeding her face.

Me... well, what can I say.  I was working.  Emptying and filling the dish washer, 

making tea... and doing all other sorts of odd jobs.

It's a good day.

:P

Butterfly Garden

Somebody had a little something on her back... and here's what she thought!  :P

WHAT??

NICOLE!!!!

Humakua

Tonight Tiff and I went to volunteer at a youth center in Washington called Humakua.  It's Hawaiian for 'Breath of God'.  

I don't think I'll ever tire of watching what a little loving attention can

do for kids.  There were a bunch of teenagers hanging out there and of course they were talking about what all teenagers talk about; who likes who, who's hot, always trying to show the next person they're better than the next.  They were boistrous and flirty... but when things started to settle down and kids starting leaving, there were only two boys left.  Tiff and I started playing games with them.  We played Ping Pong (which I stink at), Foosball, and Air Hockey.  They became different boys.  The one in particular.  He looked like a rough kid, long hair, skull sweatshirt, and earlier the other kids were joking that his mom didn't even care about him because he didn't have to be home 'til 10:30.  The more we played, the nicer they got...the one kid even let me beat him in Air Hockey.

I wonder what these seemingly confident kids think in the quiet of their own room at night.  Do they feel all empty and alone?  Do they really not feel like their parents love them?  Do they wish they didn't have to be the 'tough guy'?

There is so much hurt in our world.  So much pain.  So much sadness.  Thanks be to God that we know where true happiness comes from.  True peace.  True joy.  True love.

And may we never get too busy to pass it on to those around us.

'But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with

healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.'

Malachi 4:2

Going To The Park

Do You Think...

My cooking skills have diminished since I've been home?!  :P

(Jk, just my lack of experience with fancy toaster ovens... how much time do they need to get the toasting done?!)

Another Bend In The Road...

So I was really touched this summer while working in China with the kids and Bring Me Hope... and since I had no full time job to come home too, I spent a lot of time asking God what was next for me.

I am so excited to say that I have been offered a job working for Bring Me Hope -- and right from home!  I was talking to a friend about this new direction and was saying how I couldn't ask for anything better for my life right now.  Even tho' I've had my own plans for my life that haven't panned out, God's plan is so much bigger and SO MUCH BETTER!!  I feel so happy right now with what God is paving the way for me to do.

The first order of business was to guy one of these... 

 

...and whaddya know... I got one like this!!

So I'm ready to get to work and can't wait to see what exciting things God has planned along the way!!  Do you wanna join me in the journey?!

* * * 

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass,

 but learning to dance in the rain."