Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I don't talk about this much

But I am going to call on all you prayer warriors right now.  You see...in just a couple of weeks, Hubs and I will be loading up our car and heading towards Ohio for Thirty-One Gifts National Convention! The fact that my Hubs is going with me and willing to participate in anything that is available to him at the convention is and of it's self such an answer to prayer.

You see...Thirty-One is a faith based company..and I am praying with everything I have right now that Hubs would meet some amazing GODLY men while at the convention.  Men that he could bond with and become friends with...maybe a man that could be his mentor...he is searching right now...and the fact that he has taken an interest in going to church with me.....is another huge answer!

I know that God is in the business of answering prayers...no matter how many years I have prayed for my husband to find Jesus...I know that one day he will....and I can see small changes in him that give me hope.

So I just ask for all of you to lift us up in prayer...that this convention would be life changing for us both. We will be traveling again with some of these folks later this fall for our FREE trip to Cancun...so I pray that friendships and bonds could be developed.

He is even taking a Husbands only class that will be lead by the founder's husband and other husband's of the top leaders in the company! Friends...this is HUGE....this is exciting!

Pray anyway you feel led.....I just thank you from the bottom of my heart. :)

My excitement can hardly be contained......I am so thankful that God led me to Thirty-One...it is truly life changing..... I can't wait to share more with you after we return!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

1st day of summer

The weather is BEAUTIFUL here today! Happy first day of summer to you all! Our weekend was good, we spent Sunday with my family at my sister's house and I loved just hanging out and playing with my nephew. He is the greatest!  Of course, seeing my parents and sister and bil was wonderful too. We are all  getting excited for the baby to arrive....will it be a boy/girl is the question??  My guess is Girl......but I was wrong last time..so who knows!

My SIL (brother's wife) is also expecting again! She is due in January...so two babies in a matter of months. Auntie D can't hardly believe it!! Love how our family is growing!

Have you heard about all the flooding taking place in NW Missouri? My prayers are with all of those who have had to move out of their homes and have lost farmland due to the rising waters.  I was very distracted yesterday looking at all of the pictures on facebook.  The town of Craig has been evacuating...this small town is just 10 miles from where I grew up. Praying for everyone affected!

Received some sad news yesterday too about our neighbor three houses up our street. He passed away at such an early age of 39. He had been sick this past winter with cancer and had just come home from the hospital after finishing his chemo treatments. Things were starting to look up for him and then this past weekend he developed a blood clot on his leg and passed away on Sunday.  We had only met him twice, but seemed like such a nice guy. My prayers go out to his family and friends. 

Last night, I had a Thirty-One party. The hostess decorated with the 4th of July theme and I thought it was so cute I had to take a picture!



She also made a yummy dip that I wanted to share with you all. So easy...so good! She made it last fall when she hosted a party...and I was hoping she would make it again...and she did!

Benno's Dip

1 16 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. Knorrs Spring Vegetable Soup (dry)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Jalapeno's to taste (marinated)

Mix all ingredients together. Cool for 1 hour or more. Then set out a while before serving. Serve with pita chips or the flat pretzels.  SO GOOD!

I love yummy dips in the summer time!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day!

I have been blessed with three amazing men in my life. Above is my Grandpa K.  He was such a tender hearted man who loved to sing. I can still hear his voice as clear as day even though he has been gone for many years. I loved going to just sit with him in his living room and watch baseball, Jeopardy or the Flintstones with him. We didn't have to say much of anything...just being with him you knew how much he appreciated the company. He loved my Grandma and always said that the secret to being married for so long is answering "Yes Dear". He loved to tell jokes and make us laugh and loved his family dearly.

Above is my Grandpa B. He has only been gone a short time and I miss him alot.  This man was one of the hardest working men I know. He loved God more than anything and was such an amazing man of faith.  He was a farmer all of his life and had an amazing carpentry talent. He loved spending time with each of his 5 grandkids and keeping up with where we were on any given day.
And last but definitely not least...above is my Dad and family.  My Dad is an amazing man of faith. Through the good times and the bad, my Dad has been the rock.  He loves the Lord and is such a great example to my siblings and I.  I love spending time with him and wish it could be more often. I love you Dad! Happy Father's Day!

Thank you dear God for bringing three of the most amazing men into my life.  I am forever thankful!

Friday, June 17, 2011

The accident

So I realized I never really blogged about being rear ended....probably one of the reasons I had stopped blogging for awhile...it so put a kink in my mood and outlook.

I was just a few miles from our house on the last Saturday of April. Hubs and I had planned an actual date day for the two of us and I was running to Kohls that morning. I was coming to a complete stop as there were cars in front of me when the guy behind me was paying any attention and slammed into me. He hit me hard enough that I hit the car in front of me. Needless to say, it ruined my day/weekend/week/month.  I was very thankful that Bella and I were not hurt, just some whiplash. I was devastated. We had just bought our new car a little over a month ago and then this happened.



Thankfully, the guy that hit me was totally at fault and received a ticket. I had to go to court as a witness just a few weeks ago and he plead guilty. And we were also very thankful that he had insurance.  However, they have not been the best to deal with. I can never get a hold of the claims adjuster and she has been very rude on the phone.  Will be so thankful when this is all over.

The vehicle was not totalled, but had $13,000 in damage which just sickens us.  The adjuster had to go to the body shop three times because they kept finding things that were broken or in pieces when they took the car apart.  The body shop was kind enough to give me pictures of the car and the pieces they took off, so I thought I would share just a few.



After a month and half in the shop...we finally went to pick her up on Tuesday evening.  She looks as good as new. Hubs found some paint over spray on the driver's side...but I took it back and they removed it right away.

It's good to have my car back and be out of the rental. I admit, I am nervous driving it now.  We are still waiting to settle with the medical portion of the claim and I have been told that we should claim diminished value for the car.  I was really hoping to be done with the insurance company...but looks like a few more issues we need to work out with them. Nothing like leaving a message for the claims adjuster and her never returning my phone calls. I know what insurance to never get for car insurance..that is for sure!

Happy Friday to you all! May you all have a safe weekend!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Ok ok

I'm here! And I am blogging! Surprise!  This spring and summer has already been super busy and the end of April/May was very stressful to me with being rear ended. I can tell you that I don't like dealing with insurance companies AT ALL!

We finally have our car back after a month and a half in the body shop. From what we can tell..she looks like new...and she does have the new car smell still..but it kind of has a paint smell too...so that is a little disappointing...but I will get over it. I am just thankful to be out of the rental car!

I am still wrapping up all the issues with insurance company. I think sometimes it is never going to end. And they are the hardest people to get a hold of!

Our birthdays came and went...all in all it was a great weekend. I got to see both my niece and nephew which was wonderful! And of course seeing my Sissie and SIL was an added bonus too! :) My mom made us (or should I say...ME) ha!  a Chocolate Angel Food Cake...which was DELICIOUS!

I am staying busy with my full time job and my team is a growing with Thirty-One! I will more than double my team in the next month or two....UNBELIEVABLE!   AND I earned the Leadership Trip to Cancun in October for both Hubs and I...and I also earned us a $2000.00 cruise of our choice! Super excited about both...I am dreaming of October already....I just look at pictures and can hardly wait!


Doesn't it look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! The best part is the entire trip is FREE! We won't pay for one thing...not even parking at the airport or gratuity!  I guess...we will pay for Bella to be boarded..but that's it! AMAZING!

We now have a computer that works at home....and I just won a wireless keyboard and mouse at work yesterday...so I hope to get myself back into a routine of blogging at night.  It has been hard to find time during the day while working both my FT job and keeping up with being a Director with Thirty-One...but I wouldn't trade it for the world! Next goal...Senior Director by December....I have my eyes set on it!  God continues to bless my team and I and I am SO VERY THANKFUL!

Our neighborhood is changing.   We have new neighbors that have just started moving in across the street and one final home is going up on our block. Can't wait for this construction to be over! Can hardly believe how much it has changed in 3 years! We are even planning our first block party for August!  One of our neighbors is retiring from the military, so his wife is throwing him a party...should be lots of fun in our cul-de-sac. :)

My family is all doing good! My sister is due in September...can't wait to meet my new little niece/nephew! We will be heading to my brother's in July to stay with them a few days before driving on to Columbus, OH...excited to see them and their house and spend some quality time with Little Miss P. She came and stayed with us for one night last week. Growing up so fast! She even cried when hubs tried to give her back to me...she wanted Uncle Ike to not let her go. Too cute!

Hope you all are having a wonderful summer!! Enjoy your evening!