My dream house...

AND THE WINNER IS.........

50%
25%

25%

I have a little confession to admit. My whole life I have thought and THOUGHT about what I want in a house. AND I can NEVER just pick ONE style that I like. This week I started to think about WHAT style I like in a house, and it drove me crazy that I can't just pick ONE! OR, that I just can't tell you what I like. I go to people's house and think, "This is it! I have found my dream style...!" Only to head to the next house and think the SAME thing.

Last night I found this great little style quiz and took it. AH...it helped sooooo much as to what style I like...

I'm still NOT sure what style I will get when Wil and I buy our 1st house, BUT, I do know that this helped me just find a style.

MY top three styles were:

Nantucket style 50%

Ah...a beach house. I will say that I DO love that idea. BUT, to live in a REAL beach house you need to live BY a beach. Sad. I live in Iowa and last time I checked, there is no REAL beach. SO, with that said, if I EVER would move to the beach...I'd have a nice airy beach house. Ah...I feel the sun already.

Ok...moving on to number 2

Classic 25%

I think this stems from my love of old movies and old settings in books. Books like Emma, and anything my girl Jane writes makes me want to make tea and drink it with my friends. SO I do see where I get the Classic taste. Love it!

Last but not least....

Mountain Lodge Style 25%

Ah...how love changes you. When I was a child my parents had this GRAND idea after they retired to build a log cabin. I thought their idea was the worse thing I've ever heard. LOG...C.A.B.I.N. What were they thinking? Then, I fell in love with Mr. Hunter himself. His critters became my critters. And not ONE critter is alive. With this in the back of my head, I think BY ALL OUT LOVE, I picked this style knowing in reality, I married a hunter. (The deer is staring at me as I type.) No matter where we go, where we live, stuffed critters will be ever present in our house. AND, you and I both know that critters would not look good in a Classic house...or a beach house. They need rustic. So with that said, I have come to the cold, hard truth. For the rest of my days, the deer, bear, coyote, and soon coming duck, and all the sheds,and antlers will be living in my house with me.

So, bring on the rustic. Bring on the log cabin house...or at least the mountain lodge style. I'm up for the challenge.

Where I blog...

There are two places where I blog. The 1st place is at school. I don't sit at my desk, because the students can't get to me as easily, so I sit at the table, and when they are reading, or recess, I like to sit and blog.

Another place I blog is at my house on my couch. I sit here, and enjoy the quiet. Wil sits in the chair next to me and we talk...chat...or just go into our own worlds.

A friend asked me where I blogged...SO now I ask you! Where do you blog? Let me into your little world!

Lazy Friday Afternoon...

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the boys' basketball team has their state tournament. Some of the players left yesterday and some of the girls went to cheer them on. So here I sit with 7 students. SO I thought I'd have some fun...

After reading time, the students asked if they could work in groups at the table. They PROMISED me they wouldn't talk...BUT, they did anyway, oh well. That's life around a table.

They claim they get more work done at the table than at their desks. I remember saying the same thing to my teacher....

Here is Brady...looking at a book. He got his work all done and enjoys reading.

Carisa is working on Math. She claims she doesn't like math...and would rather work on her Word Building. (Spelling)

This is Brittany. She is working on her Math also. She is not a fan either...

This is Zach. He was scoring his Math, his favorite subject is Word Building. Or so he says.

This is Brooke and Liz. They are working on their PACES too. Don't they look like they are working hard?

This is Maddie. She works hard...and enjoys talking to the people around her.

So this is my class today...We are working very hard. Trying NOT to have homework.

Quotes on Thursday

The only true Wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

Wednesday Reader

My favorite books growing up were the Christy Miller books by Robin Jones Gunn. They changed my world as only Christy can do! She taught me to read the Bible for myself. Find God's word JUST for me and hide it in my heart.


She also taught me to wait for my "Todd" and never settle for someone RIGHT now. God will show me as long as I stay close to Him.


Christy, Todd, Doug, Katie, and Tracy all became my friends. I longed to be on the beach in CA, I dreamed about going to the same high school with these friends, and couldn't WAIT to buy the next book!

Now, I'm a middle school teacher. I'm ALWAYS looking for LIFE-CHANGING books for my students. Every year, I introduce the girls to Christy. They fall RIGHT in love with her as I did. They celebrate her joys, laugh at her quirks, and cry in her sadness.

So, to all you Peculiar Treasures out there...know that "I thank God everytime I think of you...because I have YOU in my heart!

Countdown Monday

....Only 24 more days til...


SPRING!

Expect great things!

This weekend I spoke at a conference at my church. A dream of mine that was fulfilled! While we were there GOD totally showed up...and did so many things in our lives. I want to share SO MANY THINGS, but due to lack of time, I only can share the BEST part.

On Saturday Morning, Leslie had asked Casey to do the devotions. I always think of Devotions at a retreat the lesser of "God time" and more of just a time to kind of WAKE UP. Casey had us think about where we would see ourselves in a year. (Yes, I've done this before...let's set some goals...) OK...so we began to start. ONLY he changed it! AND we wrote it like a jounal and that it has ALREADY HAPPENED! OH MY WORD...almost like we were THANKING God for what is GOING TO happen.

This idea brought so much HOPE and FAITH to each one of us. I saw people's hearts as they talked about their parents and family in CHURCH and saved. I saw people who haven't been able to have babies...say, "We took our baby to church today." SUCH a powerful moment. It also showed us how we NEED God in our everyday life to GO DEEPER. Cause I want to look back at what I wrote and say...YES! God did it all!

I don't have mine in front of me...but this is what I wrote: (Give or take a few words!)

What a great church service we had today! Wil and I took our baby to church and God was just moving in our midst. Our church has really grown and our youth and womens group are growing MORE than ever before. We can look back and it all started at our retreat.
Speaking of retreat we just had our 2nd retreat for women. God was everywhere.
Wil and I are getting ready to be married 2 years. We are closer than ever and have really learned how to talk and communicate. We went to a marriage encounter and that really helped our marriage.

The school is growing and doing well. I go about 4 days a week to help out. I miss being there but being a stay at home mom and wife keeps me busy.

I just lost 30 pounds since the baby and can finally fit into Leslie's bridesmaid dress. She is getting married in MAY and I can't wait! They are going to D.W. for their honeymoon.

Wil and I finally found a house to buy. It is perfect for BOTH of us. Enough hunting for WIL...and close enough to Floyd for me. Leslie and her husband just bought the place next to us and look forward to get-to-gethers.

At the end we were all crying and praising God for his faithfulness. Writing out our dreams were so amazing. I will think back at this time and rejoice over great things HE hath done!

Dreams do come true...

This weekend I get to live out a dream on mine. Our church is having a small retreat for the youth leaders of our church. They have asked me to be the speaker and break the word to them. This is such an honor. I LOVE doing this kind of thing. Today I've been preparing for it and am so glad that God has given me this gift from Him.

Preparing for the weekend!

Love...love...love...

I love you Valentine.
I need you Valentine.
Won't you be my Valentine?

Today was such a fun day! Always when I get to spend time with Wil am I happy. But this was just the perfect weekend to be together.

We went to Cabela's in MN and had so much fun. The day we got married we drove to MN and spent two days up there before our REAL Honeymoon. Yesterday we went to all the same places we did the 1st two days of our marriage. We even sat in the SAME booth at Famous Dave's for supper! We couldn't believe it!

Tonight we attended our church Valentine dinner. We both had fun...and had great laughs.

Thank you, Jesus, for bringing Wil in my life...

Click, clack, moo, cows that type...

The last few days all I've done is type.

Typing for the school and for different students...just to help my mom.

I started thinking about the kid's book Click, clack, moo, cows that type...
and how the cows love to type...REALLY?

Wish they would have been at school this week...

Life in a small town...

In the past couple of years, I've enjoyed watching Gilmore Girls and wished that I lived in Stars Hollow. How fun would it be to have the townspeople in your town to give you good laughs everyday.

Then it hit me...I DO live in Stars Hollow...only with a different name! FLOYD! Floyd has a Kurt. Floyd has crazy ladies. Floyd has people who can come into your house without knocking. Floyd has town meetings...I've never been to one but I'm sure I could if I wanted to attend. Floyd has funny things that happen that you can do ONLY in Floyd.

So, thank you very much small towns for all your fun!

Beautiful day!

Today looks like its going to be perfect for a February day. I think I'm going to go enjoy the day and have fun!

Little things....

Today I was driving home from school and I was praying about this year. I was pouring my heart out to God and the question came...Is God really listening!? Out of ALL the people in the WORLD is HE listening to me!? My mind began to drift for just a minute (I stopped praying...and more pleaded) GOD, CAN you hear me?!

Right then, I looked and a cardinal flew right in front of my car to the other side of the road. Right at that moment I knew that GOD did hear me. He could answer my prayers and He cares for ME more than I ever realize. It was as if He was saying...SEE! You can trust me! ALL IS WELL!

So...thanks God for that little cardinal.

You are the God of LITTLE THINGS!