Jen is at a Lady's Bible study tonight with our church, and now that the kids are in bed I thought I would update myself on what everyone's blogging these days.

Our date night that Jen mentioned on last Saturday was great. What an experience to see people who now have a shot at life they otherwise wouldn't have had without Christ. Prison, drugs, alcohol abuse, you name it - now on the road to recovery thanks to some caring individuals and most of all Christ. Hope Ministries is a neat organization that is very Christ centered. I was visiting with one of the directors recently and he recounted a recent story in which the VA administration approached Hope Ministries with a very large amount of annual funding because of the success rate of the recovery of its residents and their long term sustainability. Hope was clear from the begining that they would not accept any funding if there were strings attached regarding how they run their ministry - of course the VA said that was fine, but well into the arrangement someone finally mentioned that they would like Hope Ministries not say Jesus so much, and not require its residents to attend chapel. The reply, as it was told to me was "you came to us because of the success of the program, and now you want to take away the one thing that makes it successful. No thank you." Obviously walking away from that much money is dificult for any mission work, but hey, I don't recall finances ever being a problem for God.

I don't know how many of you have heard of or listened to much of Ravi Zacharius, but I have been listening to downloaded messages of his for some time now. This week I listened to a 5 part series entitled "Worship: A clue to meaning in life". It is definetly one of the more profound pieces of oratory that I have heard in a while. Ravi, as he often does, masterfully combines several soaring thoughts and concepts and weaves them understandibly in a mind numbing 3-4 minute segment at the end of part 4. Well worth the download if you get a chance.

We are in the middle of several remodeling projects that have had some twists and turns. It was all pretty manageable until I realized late in the summer that a roof leak really needed to be a complete re-roof rather than just trying to fix a couple trouble spots. And of course I couldn't convince any roofers that it should be done for free. So what started as wiring a new electrical outlet for a new washer dryer has turned into a new bathroom with new plumbing and electrical and shower and tile and the whole works, a new roof, new siding on the second floor, re-built soffits, all of that painted and a giant void between our kitchen and bathroom which will one day be a kitchen expansion. This week a roofer, sider, painter, and drywaller will have all been at my house at one point or another. Here are a couple midpoint pictures - just studs, plumbing, and insulation at this point. within a couple weeks I should be able to post pictures of it with paint and tile.
Existing Tub

New Shower

Since I said I would put up the "after" of the chair recover, here it is. Nothing special, but much more kid-eatable-on.

Andy and I are going on a date night tonight. Our dear neighbor is babysitting. This is not going to be a typical date, but I'm sure it'll be fun. We are going to serve food for a banquet at a homeless shelter in DSM. It's called Hope ministries and is a solid Christian evangelical organization. Their goal is to see people saved, not just provide for them physically. This is a banquet honoring the "graduates", who have had their lives changed spiritually and are now supporting themselves. Andy has done quite a bit with them, but this with be my first time. Afterwards we'll go out to eat.

This week I've been catching up and trying to get back into my responsibilies after a great weekend with friends in Chicago. We had an amazing time catching up and hanging out together. This weekend has been a hope of ours for years and we finally got it together between our schedules of weddings, babies, moves, and whatever else life brings. The highlight was going to a broadway play. I was in awe of how much talent the lead actresses posessed! =) To be able to act and sing like they did was a wonder. I didn't hear or see one mistake, but I'm also uneducated in this sphere. We stayed at the Embassy Suites Downtown Lakefront thanks to rewards points from Heidi's father in law. Katy lives in Chicago, so she was a great hostess and lead us to wonderful shopping and restaurants. Thank you to our "better halves" for their sacrifice in letting us do this! ~J~


CHICAGO

Sisters, Katy and Kari,
syched to see "Wicked"
(not what you think, it's
a take off the Wizard of
Oz) on broadway.











Me, Kaci, Heidi eating seafood.















Heidi, Evie, Kaci at the submarine exhibit in the Museum of Science and Industry.

Monday, Monday

What am I going to do today? Since my car is in the shop, I have big plans to accomplish a lot. Not sure if that will happen...

* We normally go to the Y on Mondays, but with no car, I set my alarm for 5:40 so I could go workout before Andy left for work. Did that happen? NO. Maybe I'll go tomorrow...

*It's 10:00 and I HAVE started the laundry. Mondays is laundry day. Yes, I only do it once a week.

*Make bread - 6 loaves.

* Recover dining chair seats. This is the 4th time I've done them since we've been married. I'm going with black foax leather this time, no more fabric. I got it all for $5! It has to be something spill proof and cleanable. I hope this will accomplish practicality and style. Look at these yucky seats! I'll show the "after" when I finish.

* Take screens off window, hose down, put away.

*Wash windows. Ha, yeah right!

*Where do my poor children fit into this? I know they'll be attempting to help me any way they can, they love to "help". Maybe we'll bundle up (it's only in the 40's here) and go for a walk.

I know this is more pictures than people care to see, but I'm doing it for the grandparents sake.=)

Time for an update. I got these pictures a couple weeks ago. We went to a state park with a big wooden playground by a lake. It was the perfect environment for happy pictures. Chloe was the most cooperative, maybe because she's the least "busy" and the most "dependent". Caden was impossible and couldn't be still a moment, he's a boy. Out of over 100 shots, there were some keepers. We have an old camera, so the quality is lacking.

I've been thinking on David lately and how he confidently poured out his heart to God. He gave him honor and praise, but he also told him his troubles and complaints. Often I subconsciously think that I can't say anything negative to God whether it's about a person or situation. For some reason I need to put on an act for Him. The Psalms are filled with David's complaints to God. Isn't it better to tell the Lord these things than anyone else? I seem to tell other's, but not the Lord. Most things we should tell only God and no one else. Afterall there is no one more accepting and trustworthy. I think the Lord wants to hear our complaints and our praise. I think He wants to hear our hearts.

"I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then you knew my path" (Ps. 142:2-3)
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. (Ps. 62:8)

~J~