Adventures in Life

The Bestest Cookies Ever

2011-01-07T16:23:00.001-08:00

So I was making cookies and thought I would tweak the recipe for something a little different.
This is not always advisable as it can produce inedible cookies. On this particular occasion it worked beautifully and I have yet to name the cookie, so for now they are just:

The Bestest Cookies Ever
Makes about 4 dozen (so you can eat some and still have a decent amount to share :)
1 c. butter
1c. brown sugar
1c. white sugar
1/4 c. flax seed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 c. flour
2 1/2 c. oatmeal
3/4 c. white chocolate chips
3/4 c. chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add flax seed. Blend in eggs one at a time. Now you have a choice. You can sift together flour, salt, soda, and pumpkin pie spice and add the mix to the blended wet ingredients; or you can carefully add the spice, salt, and soda so that they don't clump and add the flour once these are blended in completely. Add the oatmeal. Stir in the white and chocolate chips.
Drop by tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheets or baking stone. Bake at 350F 10-12 minutes until they have begun to deflate. (Mine puff up and then deflate around minute 11) Don't overbake them! Err on the side of undone. Let them cool for 4 minutes or so on the baking sheet. Finish cooling on a wire rack.
What results is a lightly spiced cookie with a tender top and crispy bottom (flax seeds help with this).
Store in a tightly sealed container as long as you possibly can...they may not last long!

Message for Lewis Kemper's Funeral

2010-06-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

You can find the message I shared at my grandfather's funeral here:

http://tangled-angles.blogspot.com/

I'm doing laundry...soap!

2010-06-10T12:38:00.001-07:00

A while back (read several months ago and I am not sure how long it's been:) we made our first batch of laundry soap following the Duggar recipe for liquid laundry soap. It worked really well, and was not too complicated, so now that we are about to run out I decided to make some more.

I don't know about you, but I like to use a recipe the first time I make something and then experiment to see how I could play with ingredients adding more of one or decreasing another. I do this in cooking and decided to try it with this batch of laundry soap...I will let you know how it goes, but here are the recipes I have used.

First Batch:
1 bar Fell's Naptha Soap
1/2 cup Borax
1 cup Super Washing Soda

Second Batch:
2 bars Ivory Soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Super Washing Soda

Also, enjoy the step-by-step instructional pics!
This takes maybe 20-30 minutes and saves you $BIG$!

Okay, start with your favorite mild soap.
Often recommended are Fell's Naphtha Soap, which I used in the first batch; and Ivory Soap which I used here.

1 5.5oz Fell's Naptha Soap Bar
or 2 3oz Ivory Soap Bars

Finely grate the soap.

In a sauce pan, add at least 4 cups of hot water and stir over medium heat until soap is completely dissolved.

Grab a clean 5 gallon bucket with a lid.
Fill it half full with hot tap water.

Add some Super Washing Soda and Borax.
The first batch I made had 1/2 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Super Washing Soda.

This batch I used 1 cup of each Borax and Super Washing Soda.

Stir into hot water in bucket until completely dissolved.

Pour dissolved hot soap into the bucket and stir well. Fill your 5 gallon bucket to within a couple of inches from the top with more hot water, stirring and stirring all the while.

Now, pop the lid on and let sit over night.

When you open in the morning, it is a blob of gel! Fill empty and clean laundry jugs half full of gelled soap and half warm water.

Shake well every time you use the soap as it will gel up in the bottles. Use 2/3 cup in each load, it is low sudsing and perfect for HE machines.

These recipes make 10 gallons of laundry soap!!!

It can easily cost $40 or more to buy 10 gallons of laundry soap, this recipe cost me:
$ 1.00 for 3 bars of Ivory Soap (only used 2 bars)
$ 4.00 for a box of Super Washing Soda (approx. 8 cups in the box)
$ 4.00 for a box of Borax (approx. 6 cups in the box)
Totaling $9.00 initial cost.
In reality only $1.82 for ingredients used in 10 gallons of soap!!
(That is less than $.01 per load)

The Borax and Super Washing Soda will make several batches of laundry soap.
The 5 gallon buckets can either be purchased or you can ask around at local businesses/restaurants if they have any they need to get rid of.

**For powdered detergent, grate the soap, add the Super Washing Soda and Borax; stir until thoroughly mixed or pulse in a food processor. Use 2 TBSP per load.

Supper Adventures!

2010-01-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

No, I did not mean super adventures, it really is supper adventures!

We had such a fun time tonight at supper. Instead of eating at home, which we usually do, we went to Village Inn and had a fun supper. Being a mom, I don't usually encourage eating sweets for supper, but for one night we threw the rule book out the window.

Kathrina and Arabella both had smiley face pancakes and loads of fun with their kids menus. Rich had the Denver omelet, and I had a piece of white chocolate cherry cream pie and coffee...Ok, so I implied that the sweets were for the kids but really they were for me :)

The fun (and funny) parts of the evening were found in moments where the girls let down their hair and shone forth their true selves...not something we always encourage in public--all the moms out there know what I mean!

Kathrina's funny moment came as she was eating her pancake after systematically finishing off the blueberry eyes, bacon smile, and scrambled egg hair of her smiley face. As she smeared butter on the pancakes, she turned and with all the sincerity of a six-year-old asked, "What are pancakes made of?"
Being the mom and baker in our house, I answered, "Lots of things, flour, eggs, milk..."
To which she replied, "No, mom, I mean what ANIMAL are they made from."
Apparently we have been talking a little too much lately about the animal origins of some of her food.

For Arabella, moments are like all things in her life, nothing is ever small! Everything is attacked with the zeal only a three-year-old can produce. We had reminded her several times that she needed to use a little voice while we were eating so as not to disturb those around us--let's face it, people think kids are cute, but loud ones are obnoxious. So, when she screamed "Oow!" for no apparent reason as she was eating her pancake, we once more started to tell her she needed to keep it down.
As she stabbed a piece of pancake with her fork, our eyes were opened to the greater situation with her added statement of "Ow, that hurts me!" Onto the fork went the pancake, screaming for its life, and into her mouth with a big grin.
Rich and I laughed as we understood what was happening, which only further encouraged Bella. She promptly turned to her daddy and said, "I'm a pancake, eat me! I'm yummy!" We all got a big laugh then as she laid back in the booth and presented herself for consumption.

It was fun, and I couldn't let this night pass without giving tonight's supper adventures their proper due. It may seem like a little thing, but those little things all add up to big important feelings in little girls who learned again tonight that they are great people, that family life is fun and that sometimes love is best expressed in laughter.

Burundi Travel pics and stories 1

2009-09-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Well, these first two pics are of us sitting in the posh Wichita airport--known to travel afficionados as ICT. Lots of people came to see us off on our many hours (Don't ask, I haven't figured it out with all the time changes:) of flying to Burundi for the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Friends ministry in that country. Our flight was in the afternoon from Wichita to Chicago, then a layover and on to London. This being a first international flight for some, it was hard to know when to eat and when to wait. Who would think you would get on a plane at 9 at night and be served supper two hours later? Crazy, but I did like the hot towel service!

We had a layover in London long enough to ride the tubes to the Tower of London and barely make it back for our flight... So here is the London Bridge, and below you will find one of the world's most expensive bottles of water. I figured any warm bottle of water that costs me 1 pound 50 (translate to roughly $3) and fits in the palm of my hand is picture-worthy!

We've Been Tagged!

2009-06-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

What is your current obsession?
Charity: Burundi
Rich thinks it an awfully strong word and can’t come up with a quick answer.

What are you wearing today?
Charity: New Shoes, green capris, black T, khaki jacket. Rich: Shorts and T.

What’s for dinner?
Braums!

What would you eat for your last meal?
Charity: Cheesecake.
Rich: Bacon Explosion to make sure it is my last meal, although I am sure it would taste disgusting.

What’s the last thing you bought?
Charity: New Shoes. Rich: Dinner.

What are you listening to right now?
Birds, traffic, kids.

What is your favorite ice-cream flavour?
Charity: Phish Food Rich: Chocolate Chip Mint.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
Charity: We love Mike. I love reading his writings. We agree on a LOT regarding religion and politics and Jesus.
Rich: I just like to trash talk him while playing games… I think my wife pretty much covered the rest.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Somewhere quiet near Family.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Charity: Someplace where the sun is setting over a beach.
Rich: With my wife.

Which language do you want to learn?
Charity: Kirundi (Burundi Obsession)
Rich: Greek or Latin.

What’s your favorite quote (for now)?
Charity: “She took a bite out of every one and she’s mean.” –Kathrina Sandstrom talking about Arabella’s tasting of ALL the strawberries in a pint.
Rich: “Daddy-dy-dy-dy-dy” -Arabella Sandstrom when she is calling for me from another room.

What is your favorite colour?
Charity: The Green of newly sprouted wheat (Verdant)
Rich: Blue and sometimes Green.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
Charity: New shoes.
Rich: Shorts of course.

What is your dream job?
Charity: Lead vocals in a band
Rich: Not having to have a job!

If you could invent any useful invention, what would it be?
Charity: The perfect bed that created the perfect environment for a perfect night’s sleep!
Rich: A replication machine.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on? Charity: A massage and spa day…why not, it’s imaginary money, in pounds even!
Rich: Books for Kathrina’s kindergarten.

What is your favorite architectural style?
Charity: American Craftsman
Rich: Modern, not semi-modern or half bred-modern.

Describe your personal style?
Charity: Cheap and comfortable, professional looking is a plus…
Rich: Practical for a pastor’s spouse.

What are you going to do after this?
Put the kids to bed.

What are your favourite movies?
Charity: Return to Me, Princess Bride, Wall-E, Josh and the Big Wall, Beauty and the Beast, Little Man Tate, Paul Blart: Mall Cop…I could go on.
Rich: Depends on my mood.

What’s your favourite fruit?
Charity: Good ripe peaches.
Rich: Depends on what I grow in my garden…successfully

What inspires you?
Charity: Coming out on the other side of difficult times.
Rich: People living their Faith.

Your favorite book ?
Charity: Hind’s Feet on High Places.
Rich: Outside the Bible, it is hard to say. I have preferred authors but to say any one book would be hard.

Do you collect something ?
Charity: Teapots kind of…
Rich: Not really. I use to collect things but things are just things and are not that important.

What would you name your next child?
Depends on if it is a boy or girl and what my spouse’s opinion is.

Polka Dots or checks?
Charity: Polka Dots
Rich: checks

What time is it?
Charity: 9:21pm
Rich: 8:53pm

Does your blog have a publishing schedule?
Nope. We go active and inactive at random.

What is your favorite non-required activity?
Charity: Making jewelry or something crafty like that
Rich: Gardening

I tag: Joy, Amy, Jere & Reagan, Resa...and anyone else who wants to be tagged? We don't know that many bloggers.
Rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.(Or however many)

Christmas Picture Update

2008-12-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun pictures of our family throughout the year. If you got a Christmas Card, these were included. If you didn't get a Christmas Card, we probably don't have your address, but we love you anyway.

Merry Christmas!

"The other blog..."

2008-11-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have noticed that I have another blog: angles. I don't mind who reads it, but be warned that the content is what comes straight from my brain to the page. I started that blog as sort of a personal outlet for thoughts and feelings I have that don't have much of an outlet in my life. (Blog therapy if you will) Some of it is personal about my health struggles and other things. Some of the content is just random thoughts. You are welcome to read it, to comment, but know that since the posts sometimes reflect raw emotions, they are not always how I feel at the end of the day. My trust is always in my God--maker of heaven and earth--to guide me and give me strength from day to day, regardless of the thoughts and feelings that rise in any given moment.

Autumn

2008-10-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

It's fall. Getting cooler, leaves are turning, and the nights are coming sooner. I am glad for all these side-effects of the earth's rotation around the sun! Cooler weather means I get to wear sweaters and corduroy, and drink hot beverages whenever the mood hits me. Leaves turning means we all get to see the brilliant colors that had been hiding under all that chlorophyll. I love the pictures that are painted on the branches of trees! If only we could keep them there longer, without their all-too-soon drop to become heaps of dull moldering reminders that winter's coming. Early nights mean that I no longer have to convince my children that it is time for bed--in fact tonight Rina said, "It's almost bedtime," and it was only 6:30! God blesses parents everywhere with Fall!

Tonight I am reminded of an old song from a musical I was in exactly 6 years ago. The song's melody wistfully accompanies the words:
Autumn, shall we all meet in the Autumn
Golden and glowing by Autumn
Shall we still be best of friends, best of friends...
Let breezes blow and turn cold
As we continue growing old, this Autumn
Love newly found, may yet last...
I don't know why this song was in my head, maybe just the season and nostalgia. But I do love the thought that come what may, we can choose to love and enjoy life. Kind of like the verses in Ecclesiastes that say we should live and enjoy the fruits of our labor because they are blessings from God. So, this Autumn, I plan to live to enjoy the life and blessings God has given me; even if, and perhaps in spite of their arrival in an imperfect package!

Kathrina's Fifth

2008-09-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Kathrina had another birthday! She is now 5 years old, as she will tell anyone who will listen!

We had great fun watching her open presents and hold the tissue paper high so that we could snap cute pics.

She pulled in quite the haul of presents, not pictured here are her new bed and comforter as well as a barbie doll, but keep scrolling, you will see them soon enough!

She requested a very similar cake to last year's birthday cake, so if it looks familiar, that is why.
She specifically wanted a basket, flowers, a heart, "happy birthday Kathrina" and swoopilies... Mommy did her best to accomodate:)

I know she does not look enthused in this pic, but trust me it is just because she wanted to get to the real presents!

For her birthday last year, Mommy painted lattice and flowers on the wall to make a garden. This year it was a bed to match. We picked this bed up at a garage sale along with a dresser/mirror, and desk for $25. Not bad with a new coat of paint!

And Grandma Ruth E. found bedding to match! Way to go Grandma, and Target!

It looked so good, even Bella got in on the bed celebration!

Just as we thought we were done, the Barb's dropped by with another present, Kathrina's very first Barbie doll!

And some rubber duckies for Bella, just so she didn't feel left out! What sweet people!

Just thought I would throw in a fun unexpected pic. This one is courtesy of Grandpa Flurry, who snapped a pic just as we all looked up! So, here we are in all our unprepared glory!

Rina's Flower

2008-07-09T10:00:00.001-07:00

Rina has been wanting to get a pet; she wants a dog or cat. We told her that she was too young for a pet and that she would have to keep a plant alive for a while before we would even consider getting a fish, let alone a puppy.

So we put a seed in a flower pot and she watered it well. Every day she would check on it's progress as it sprouted and grew on a sunny ledge in our enclosed back porch. Soon it had out-paced the other identical seeds we had planted in another pot right next to hers.

...And after a while it seemed we had a phenomenon on our hands.

The zinnia which usually grows to 15 cm to a maximum of 1 meter, has now outgrown our 4-year-old daughter at an amazing 4 feet!

Now that she has out-gardened our plan to keep her pet-less, how to explain why she can't get a puppy...I guess we'll have to think about that one!

We haven't gotten her a proper pet yet, but we did let her bring in a garden snail to watch in a mason jar complete with a snail-happy habitat of damp dirt, old leaves, and fresh green leaves every few days.

Zoo trip

2008-07-09T09:49:00.001-07:00

We took Grandma, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa and the girls to the Emporia Zoo.
We had a great time looking at the bob-cat, lemurs, prairie dogs, turtles, owls, fishes...and eating a picnic lunch. Our zoo is free, and happens to be the smallest accredited zoo in the nation, something we are proud of and take advantage of often.

Rina usually wants to be the one taking pictures, but a four-year-old standing by the water with a digital camera is probably not the best scenario, so she settled for posing dramatically by the fence.

Bella rode in her chariot for the excursion.
(And looking at these pictures, I know I will never be able to deny the resemblance between my mother and myself.)

Rich took some great picture postcard quality shots. This is in the Koi pond.

Along with animals, the zoo has a great mix of domestic and exotic plants.

And they use every possible inch available to create micro-landscaping masterpieces!

Cake!

2008-07-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, make no mistake, this is my 18 month old eating cake in her pajamas!

The leftover angel food cake from the 4th of July family gathering was left on the table overnight, and she was merely helping with the clean-up efforts!

It was too cute, and angel food is full of egg-white protein, so we just stood back and snapped pictures as she munched on the unusual breakfast treat!

Gardens and Pool!

2008-07-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

Rich has been growing a nice garden this year! We have already harvested radishes and lettuce. We have tomatoes on the vine and our squash and cucumbers are blooming. We even have a couple of bell peppers starting on our pepper plants. Still to come will be carrots, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. I almost can't wait!

One nice way we have found to conserve water is to use the water from the kid's swimming pool to water the garden. We feel less guilty about using the pool and we have a good excuse for emptying and refilling the water to keep it fresh! One afternoon, (decidedly unpictured here!) the girls and I were all in the pool while Rich worked in the garden. Fun was had by all!

Greensburg 1 year later

2008-06-02T08:38:00.001-07:00

It was the first time we had been back to Greensburg, and the absence of familiar landmarks was disorienting. Greensburg was the place where Rich and I developed our friendship. We went on Kwick-shop dates sharing bad coffee and a bag of Reeces Pieces.

Our daughter Rina had played at the Big Well Park, and much of my pantry-stocking was done at WB's Bulk Food Store. All of those things are gone now, or are drastically changed. But the biggest reminder of the devastation, and the greatest testimony to life pressing on in the midst of suffering were the trees. Naked trees that had been stripped of branches and leaves. Precious trees that had been nursed and cared for in the middle of the Kansas Prairie. Proud trees that, in spite of their assault, were shooting out tiny branches like fur, struggling to survive.

The people of Greensburg are like their trees. They have been stripped bare. No homes, no clothes, no possessions. They lost all that they had cared for and built up. A year ago they appeared to have lost both their past and their future. But today, like their trees, they are sending out shoots. They are branching out. They are pressing forward with life. They will rebuild. They will go on. The scars of that aweful day one year ago will remain, but those scars testify to the triumph of life over hardship.

The Kansas State Motto is "Ad Astra Per Aspera," To the Stars through Difficulties. The lives of those living in Greensburg are a testimony to the reality of that theme for all the world to see.

Where has the time gone?

2008-06-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Having just realized that I have not blogged since April, I decided it was time for an update. May ...what can I say, I think it may have been even busier than March and April--if that is even possible.
I spent my birthday with my Aunt Jacque and Uncle David in Colorado. It was fun to see them and catch up. We were on our way back from Estes Park and Pastor's Retreat. From there we drove through crazy 60-70 mph side gusting winds back to Kansas and then South into Greensburg.
The original purpose of that trip was to join in the alumni festivities in Haviland for Rich's 10 year college reunion. On arrival, we found that no one was really there from his graduating class.
We spent the weekend, instead, with our friends in Greensburg commemorating one year of recovery from the tornado that left the town bare.
We ended our trip in Wichita staying at my Mother's and heading to Institute Monday night. Then back home on Tuesday morning, May 6th.
I had an appointment to have my wisdom teeth removed on Monday May 12th. Two went with an extraction, two surgically, and by Friday I was eating fairly normally. Having recovered from my oral surgery, I came down with a viral infection that stole my voice for four days, and left me coughing for the remainder of the month!
Now it is June, and I have no idea where all the in between time went. It seems we have jumped from activity to activity, and week to week until here we are, and it is almost officially summer!

Busy months!

2008-04-10T10:09:00.001-07:00

March was CRAZY!
We entered March having just completed our church Chili Supper, where we fed about 250, on Feb.29th.
It seemed the month hurtled toward Easter like a runaway train. I am not sure exactly how it all got done, but in the middle of that careening train I managed to make two spectacular Easter dresses for the girls, write 4 sermons for Easter weekend-two in Spanish, prepare six songs-4 in Spanish, teach a membership class, visit 2 doctors myself, shots and then check-up for Bella, all while adjusting to the early time-change and juggling all my other regular responsibilities.

I am always glad that I never over-commit...

Anyway, in a flash it was over, and now April is 1/3 of the way gone.
So far in April I have had three days down due to throwing my back out last week; Sunday regular schedule; Church Leadership Institute for Ministry in Wichita Monday, saw that KU three-pointer on our way out the door to come back to Emporia; more diagnostic testing to define whatever is causing my symptoms in Topeka Tuesday morning, Elder's Meeting that evening; visitation, Kid's Club, and Game Night on Wednesday. Thank God it is Thursday and my day off!

Left in April: Regular Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday church activities; Gideon Presentation; Special offerings; Hosting Northeast Area Rally April 27th; Drive to Estes Park for Pastor's Retreat April 27th & 28th; Pastor's Retreat April 28th-May 1st. (First weekend in May will bring Alumni Weekend at Barclay, Rich's 10 year reunion, so we'll be driving from Estes to Haviland.)

Next thing I know, May 1st will come and I will be a year older. How time flies!

Bella's First Birthday!

2008-03-10T17:49:00.001-07:00

Bella had her first birthday December 29th!
Mommy made the cake and we had a yummy good time!

Bella got quite the haul, with books, clothes, toys, and even a dolly!
She had no idea what was going on, but the gift bags and new things were just fine with her!

(It seems we inadvertently had a green and blue theme going with the gifts and wrappings.)

Bella had her first cake!

Let me tell you, she didn't miss a bite!

By the end, I think she was a little cake-drunk ...don't worry, we put her to bed and she slept it off just fine!

Christmas Pics...Finally!

2008-03-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

We spent Christmas this year at our house, just hanging out with our immediate family, and Grandma Ruth E.

Rina really helped this year to decorate the tree and we enjoyed the decorations and the lights for a little more than a month.

Grandma, Mom, and Dad enjoyed watching the girls open and get right to work playing with their new toys!
Of course there were the occasional snuggle breaks to remind everyone that the real fun was in each other's company.

Much time was spent just relaxing and enjoying the day and the family that God has so richly blessed us with!
Here, Bella and Rina sit back to savor some milk and sister time!

Grief

2008-01-15T12:38:00.001-08:00

I was watching E.T. today, and it struck me how there are scenes from movies that seem to exist for the sole purpose of capturing specific aspects of human emotion. I am of course referring to the closing scene of the movie when E.T. and Elliot are saying goodbye. E.T. gestures toward his heart, then his mouth and says, "ouch." Elliot follows suit, and anyone who has lived for any length of time knows exactly what they mean. That sense of heart-ache that knows no expression in words, yet is so poignantly caught in this simple expression.
I have had the opportunity to spend time with some families this last year as their loved ones stood at the doors of physical death, preparing to go on to eternal life. This sense of saying goodbye, not knowing quite when they would see each other again filled each moment. That feeling so succinctly put in the word, "ouch."
Parting with our loved ones hurts so much that sometimes we can find no adequate way of expressing the anguish of soul, the heart-gripping, throat clenching, chest constricting pain that invades and threatens to swallow us whole.
We know we cannot change what is, that they must go.
And we must stay.
But even as we know that our love for them will continue, it is that very love we fear the most.
We fear being unable to continue in life, so consumed by the love of one no longer by our side.
We face the urge to flee, leaving our hurt behind.
We fear our grief will rule our days and nights until every moment is caught in a swarm of pain.
We also fear that grief will fade, and with it our love, so we wrap it around our shoulders like a warm blanket, and immerse ourselves in its darkness.
But if we are to continue, we must let the light in once again. We must feel the pain of grief, but instead of clinging to its folds, we must let it go.
We must allow the tears to flow and wash over us like rain, cleansing both heart and face.
We dance our dance with grief, but when the song is done, we remember the dance, but we go on.
I have danced with grief. I have faced my fear. I have loved.
And I go on to love again, knowing that the promise is true: Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. The joy is bittersweet, but love becomes richer when we know the risk we take.

Kathrina turned four!

2007-09-22T12:16:00.001-07:00

One must realize when one reaches the ripe old age of four, that there is a certain order to the Universe, not the least including birthday cake & candle protocol! The prescribed steps in properly fulfilling birthday tradition include, but are not limited to:

Blowing out the lit candles;

Licking all remaining icing from said candles;

Stopping to ponder the wonder of mothers and their ability to create works of art in cake;

And last, but not least...Presents!!!

Vacation

2007-08-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

We took our first flying vacation with two kids under 4. It was quite an adventure! Dad took Rina, Mom took Bella, and we had separate flights. Flying went well, got to our destination--Aunt Kedri's house. Then for five glorious days, we just relaxed, enjoyed each other's company, hung out on the deck, at the park, the Farmer's Market, and some rented movies capped off our entertainment. It was great to spend time with the cousin babies together, the auntie-moms swapping stories, and the uncle-daddies mixing in the fun. It was all time well spent--always is when people are the agenda--and we enjoyed ourselves immensely!

Thanks to our hosts! Hope you all enjoy the following photos documenting our trip.

Rina's Photo Essay

2007-08-18T07:43:00.001-07:00

Traveling, from a three-year-old perspective...

SanFam

2007-08-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Our Family Photos, edited by Mom.

Metzger Family

2007-08-18T07:39:00.001-07:00

Metzger Family Photos.

Kiddo Pics

2007-08-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

Here are the Kid Pictures.

Life ten years later...

2007-07-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

Charity's ten year high school reunion is this weekend. It is just crazy how time flies by! Growing up, 28 seemed like so far away. I had all kinds of thoughts about where I would be and what I would be doing...None of them ever included being a Pastor, living in Northeast Kansas, or putting my thoughts on the world wide web for anyone to read. I believe when we find ourselves in these moments where life catches us off-guard and we realize that we are not where we ever thought we would be, we have a decision to make. Will we look at our path and rejoice because we are in a place that much better suits who we are; that person we didn't know ten years ago? Or will we mourn the loss of yesterday's dreams? I guess it depends on where we find ourselves. At this point in my life, I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else. I wouldn't choose a different vocation. I wouldn't choose a different family situation. It may not be where I thought I would be, but in my case, it is so much better. I am not trying to sermonize, but there is a scripture promise that I believe sums up my thoughts. Paul says (and I paraphrase here) that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has ever conceived what God has planned for us. If I had been given a map of my life ten years ago, I wouldn't have believed it. I would have tried to avoid the lows and hang onto the highs, and I would have lost this moment in time, when I can look back and say, I wouldn't change it at all.

Summertime, and the livin' is BUSY!!!

2007-07-25T06:33:00.001-07:00

We had Vacation Bible School last week! It was a lot of fun, 16 kiddos in all over two days. Kathrina had fun at her first VBS.I will put in a pic of her class--she of course not paying any attention!
Life continues on its streak towards Fall!
Ministry Conference this week, then vacation!
Here's to meeting my cutie of a nephew (Ariel) in person!
I just can't wait!

Song Lyrics-When I Lay it Down

2007-07-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

There is Joy-there is joy
There is Comfort-there is comfort
There is Peace, peace, peace
When I lay it down

When I lay down my burdens,
and I place them at his feet
When I kneel at this altar,
I will never face defeat, because

There is Joy-there is joy
There is Comfort-there is comfort
There is victory
When I lay it down

By Charity

Song Lyrics-King of my Heart

2007-07-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Jesus, King of my heart,
You're everything to me.
Jesus, you saved my soul;
now you're making me whole,
So I can be more like you.

You rule my heart like a glorious king.
You walk beside me through all that life brings,

Jesus, Jesus,
You're everything to me.
By Charity

Busy, busy, busy!

2007-07-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

I predict that the rest of our summer will simply fly by! We have Bible School July 20th-21st; a conference July 26th-28th; family vacation August 2nd-13th; and family camp labor day weekend!
I hope we can keep up! Sometimes life seems to slip into high gear and the next thing you know, its next year!
Goal for the rest of the summer: Take Time to Breathe!

Happy July!

2007-07-10T13:13:00.001-07:00

We have been enjoying ourselves this fine month of July!
Our church had a booth at the town festival on the 4th and we had lots of fun interacting with people from all over. Here's a pic of our patriotic daughter, cute as can be!

The past year

2007-06-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

We've had a busy year! We moved from our old house to our new house in September, and Charity Started at a new ministry position. Adam and Allie were married in September as well. We gathered for Christmas at our house and added Bella to our family in December. Early 2007 was spent getting to know our newest addition, ministering to folks here, and looking forward to Kedri's new one to come in April. In the mean time we hosted Grandma Sandstrom for Easter. That was fun and she got to meet face-to-face with her grands here for the first time. Grandma Ruthie has been popping in and out as time permits her to make the short drive from her new place. All in all, very satisfying good times for us this year! Here are some pics to prove it!

Easter With Grandma Sandstrom

2007-06-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Linda came for Easter and Rina enjoyed getting acquainted with grandma. Here they are seeing what the Easter Bunny dropped off for the special day!

Family Christmas

2007-06-22T08:47:00.001-07:00

We gathered at our new house for Christmas. Every time we gather at Christmas, funny pictures are the norm.

This time we decided to celebrate the local vintage shopping options by gathering hats, gloves, ties, and pipes to make funny pseudo vintage pics.

The ladies are being scolded for their un-lady-like behavior, while the men are looking studious.

***Don't worry, no tobacco in the pipes and no actual smoking, just props***

Adam's Wedding

2007-06-22T08:41:00.001-07:00

My Brother Adam got married!

Meet my Sister-In-Law Allie!

My Brother on his wedding day giving the BIG THUMBS UP!!

My Sister Kedri and I also took advantage of the gathering to take the first of many sister preggy belly pics.

2007-06-20T09:17:00.001-07:00

Here's Rich doing one of the things he does best-love and snuggle his girls! That is why he makes such a great household manager and stay-home-dad!

2007-06-20T09:06:00.001-07:00

This is Charity in the church she pastors. It is full of neat people also seeking to follow Jesus in their life adventures. More than just a job, Charity likes to get involved with the everyday lives of the people she ministers with!

Girls At Work

2007-06-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Our girls are hard at work learning and growing; preparing for their own life adventures.

Rina seems determined to use all necessary force to find the solutions to life's quandaries.

Bella, on the other hand is busy learning by observing all the things Big Sis has already figured out...

(like how to use the digital camera to take pics of Lil Sis)!

New things

2007-06-20T06:42:00.001-07:00

It's kind of funny how there are always new things to try, new things to do, or maybe just new ways to do old things like keeping in touch with family and friends. We may be a little behind the game, just starting to blog, but I think "why not, better late than never."
So, here is to the beginning of another new adventure for the Sandstrom family, sharing our lives with you on the World Wide Web!