our dog howls

A few months ago, Bella started howling every so often when she would drink water. The first time it scared us, but now it's just hilarious. We still aren't sure why she does this. Brain-freeze? Just so darn excited about drinking water? Who knows! I finally caught this on video, and it just-so-happened to be one of her better performances. Make sure you watch the entire video; the end gets good. :) Love y'all!

sew happy

I just wanted to post a few pictures of my recent sewing projects. :)

Coffee sleeve for your Starbucks!

Pin cushions!

This is my first finished quilt top! I am making this for my friend Kacey who is expecting a little boy in June. :)

With two borders! :)

Now I just have to quilt and bind. :)

And tonight is class #2 to learn how to machine quilt. :) The first class was over batting and basting, and even that was overwhelming. Let's hope I can master the quilting part! :)

part-timer

Ahhhh.....I'm loving my part-timer life. :) A few months ago I decided it would be best if I cut back some hours, so now I work Monday - Wednesday. Fantastic. :) Since we are usually gone most weekends skiing, hiking, etc., this allows me to clean house, work on my sewing projects, and still play on the weekends. So my past Thursdays and Fridays have included:

- cleaning

- working on a baby quilt and coffee sleeves

- shopping :)

- coffee in the mornings and enjoying some HGTV and the Today Show

- playing with my Bella

- dropping Bella off at the vet this morning to get spayed :(

- lunch with friends

- renewing our vehicle registrations

- boxing up items that won't be needed for a few months

- painting

- cleaning out cabinets and closets

- house hunting

- researching for new jobs

..... oh wait, did I mention we're moving? Yep, definitely sooner than anticipated, but my hard-working husband got a promotion! We got the call a couple weeks ago and basically had no choice. As much as we love Colorado, could raise a family and retire here, God has a bigger plan for us. So the movers are coming the first week of June, and we are heading further north to Dickinson, ND.

Honestly, this is a new kind of "stress" for me, which is a mild way of saying that I'm a crazy woman. My poor husband. It was an easy choice to move to Grand Junction, and we actually volunteered for this opportunity. But being told to move when we aren't ready? That's a different story. I love our friends. I love our house. I love that we can do anything in the mountains in just a short drive. I love the farmer's market in the summer. I love the peaches. I love the weather. I love our church. I love meeting my friend Kacey in our neighborhood to walk our dogs. I love that I can ride my bike to Quilter's Corner to get advice on what fabric to choose for my borders. But now? We have to sell our house, pack up, and start all over again.

So I started off a mopey mess, wallowing in my own pity party. But that was mostly in the beginning, when I wasn't relying on God for strength and comfort....trying to handle it myself as usual. But the more I seek God in this time of unknown, stress, and fear (and sadness, too), the more excited I become. I honestly trust God's plan for us, and I know that we are going to make new friends, experience news places, make a new home for us. But goodness, I'm going to miss so much about Grand Junction.

A sweet dear beautiful friend of mine, Gina, gave me some precious spiritual guidance: In all our dwellings, we are to bring God glory. Psalm 119:54 says "Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge". The Message puts it this way: "I set your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way."

So I'm singing! I may have tears while I'm singing, and I will have smiles, too. I will sing as I pack up boxes, as I hug friends goodbye, as we pass the "Leaving Colorful Colorado" sign, but also as we pass the "Welcome to North Dakota" sign, too. :) I will sing while we are snowed in during the cold winters, and I will sing when we visit Mt. Rushmore or Theodore Roosevelt National Park and view the wild horses and buffalo.

Dickinson has 15,000 people. The closest Target and Starbucks are in Bismarck, 100 miles away. But the Dakota people are supposed to be so warm and friendly. There is a fabric shop, and if that's not good enough, I can always order online. :) Thank goodness for the internet. Maybe I can become a full-time quilter or photographer? :)

So that's the news. And I'm singing it. :) Praise the Lord for His plan for us and letting Him controls the details rather than myself. :) Love y'all!

trouble

another ski weekend!

Yep, more skiing!

Caleb's good buddy from high school and college, Brett, came to visit us since he recently got back from Afghanistan. (He's in the Air Force, and we are so thankful for this awesome man serving our country...and the many many more doing the same thing! Always lifting prayers up for these guys!) So we left Friday morning for Vail and skied three days. It felt like Spring Skiing! Woohoo! We discovered some grills located at the top of a couple lifts, so it was our goal to use them! Caleb pattied up some yummy burgers, packed the fixin's, and grilled those suckers for lunch at 11,000 feet. And the second day we grilled some brats! Mmmmmm!! Couldn't imagine a better meal while on the slopes! :)

Here are a few pics from the weekend!

Waiting for the bus to arrive!

Grilling on the mountain! ....one of those, "I'm never going to forget this day" moments. :)

We found out some crazy news this week, but more to come on that. Love y'all!