So....we've come to the point in our marriage where we've had "the talk". When you're dating, "the talk" is about if marriage is in your future, and when you're married, "the talk" is when you're gonna start havin' those kiddos. Of course, Chris and I have always been talking about having kids, but we were always talking in general terms about waiting "a few years". Well, now we've set a "date" when we will begin trying at least (and it could take years of trying from that point, so who knows!). Lord willing, about a year from now we will prayerfully be "working" on ;) starting a family. The discussion was thrilling to my heart, but to write it down, I guess it does sound kinda business-like: Schedule baby. Fall 2008. haha Anyway, are we weirdos for making a specific date? Maybe we are and just don't realize it.

Anyway...in regards to the other aspects of our lives, I found out that the job I had been waiting on was finally filled. Oh well. I really had given that job up to God and I truly have complete peace about it, all thanks to Him. I really have no idea if teaching will ever be in His plans for me again. Thankfully, I'm staying busy. Working at good ol' CB, teaching lessons on Mondays, and now I will be directing a Christmas play with the teens in church. So I still get to work with teens, which is awesome!

Tomorrow I start a fitness program at a workout center near here, and I am PUMPED! I have been needing this prod to get my butt in gear, and I have a wedding to go to this December and I definitely do not want to be chubby in all the photos. To prepare my body for the taste deprivation, I ordered steak, fries, macaroni and cheese AND dessert at Logan's on Friday night (things I NEVER order in restaurants, normally) and I made chocolate chip cookies tonight. Just so my darling taste buds know they are loved before they get little satisfaction in the coming months.....

Attention: Now ANYONE can comment on my blog ---- so please let me know if you're reading! I feel like no one is reading this blog right now. I need to know if I'm writing for no one but myself! :)



I made salmon tonight for the first time ever (and only the second time I've ever eaten it in my life) and OH MY WORD, it was fabulous! I grilled it, then made Green Giant's "Immunity Boost" frozen veggie mix, and then cooked up Betty Crocker's "Seasoned Skillets" Roasted Garlic and Herb potatoes. The salmon was on sale at Wal-Mart, I had a coupon for the veggies, and the potatoes are only 88 cents at Wal-Mart. Delish. I highly recommend all of the above foods.

Today was my second week of voice/piano lessons to the four home-schooled girls that I teach. All of them are good girls, but my favorite one to teach is Faith, the 16 year old. She really has talent and it is so fun to give her songs that she's never been exposed to before. I started her on "True Love's Farewell" today and she just perked right up! Normally her background has been only church music, so this was something out of the norm for her. It is a true joy to my heart to give a student a piece of music that fits them and they love to work on!

This weekend I went to Connecticut to play piano for my church's fall Bible conference. I was paid $243 for my travel cost, but then I was anonymously given another $178!! I was incredulous. God is amazing, because that pretty much will cover most of the cost to go to Mark and Kari's wedding in Indianapolis at the end of December. It will be a huge reunion of my dear friends and I can't wait.

So, you know it's a good thing when you see this at your door on an ordinary day:

(yes, there is pink carpet in our apartment, and yes, i hate it)
It's even better, though, when this:

and THESE are what's inside!

My husband is a wonderful, wonderful man and I praise God for Him. I do not deserve him in the slightest.

This weekend my sisters-in-law and my in-laws and niece and I canned applesauce! We're talking straight up, no sugar-added pure apple goodness. It was very, very tiring, but overall it was a blast and we canned about 140 quart-sized jars. By the end we were all getting a little slap happy and acting ridiculous but it was so fun to get to be a part of this process. Not a whole lot of canning goes on in Connecticut suburbs, so that was a fun experience.

My application for licensure was FINALLY mailed (hallelujah) to the PA Dept of Ed on Friday, so if you happen to think of me at any point, pray that the information goes through quickly and that I still might possibly get this job in my town that has STILL not been filled.

I have been reading two great books: Homespun Memories for the Heart (Karen Ehman, Kelly Hovermale, and Trish Smith) and A Life That Says Welcome (also by Karen Ehman). I would encourage any of you girls to read these books if you can get your hands on them! They are fabulous resources for making your home more inviting to others and also have great advice on making the most of everyday life and events. I am lucky enough to have a Christian library in the area, so that's where I checked out the second book, and the first book I randomly came across (brand new) in a discount store for a third of the price! I was pumped.

Okay, last thing I will say....I have been reading - okay, really devouring - this woman's website. She is amazing! She and her husband are Christians and have published a few books together, but she is all about entertaining and being hospitable to others as a way of life, not as a once-a- year occurrence. No matter what stage of life you're in, I don't see how you can find her site not fascinating. She is currently doing a give-a-way simply for people who comment on her blog (and I've seen the things she's mailed to other people, and they're fabulous). I already have her linked on the side of my page, as well - SO GO VISIT HER!

Okay, reading over this post, I sound like a really boring housewife. haha....oh well ;) Have a wonderful Wednesday. Or as Dr. Curlette used to say (for all my Cedarville people): "Happy Hump Day, Ladies and Gentlemen!" Ahhhh, the memories! :)

p.s. if you have a google account (read: GMAIL -- and you know you all do), you can respond to my blogs even though i'm not on xanga anymore. you know you want to!

Chris and I went to a baptism service at church today. Our niece got baptized, along with about 6 other kids and one middle-aged woman. The last time I was at a baptism, it was my own -- and I was a sophomore in high school. Seeing it now as an "adult", I was moved to tears at the immense beauty and symbolism of it. What a powerful metaphor to see each of those people come forth out of the water, emerging forth to demonstrate that their old life is "dead" to them. It was SO cool!

In other news, I made a trifle today for the church get-together afterwards. Chris's dad (our pastor) told me I was officially inducted into the church because I was taking an empty dish home from the church get-together. Seriously girls, if you've never made a trifle before, you need to make one pronto - it's WICKED easy. Yes, I pulled out the "wicked"-- you know this is serious. ;)

Here's how I make mine:

• devil's food cake mix
• two boxes of instant chocolate pudding (you'll also need 4 C of milk on hand to make pudding)
• large container of cool whip
• chocolate covered toffee pieces (you can use skor bars or heath bars (chopped up), or look
  in the baking aisle - hershey's makes it in a bag you can buy like chocolate chips)

Are you ready?
Make the cake and slice it/break it into chunks (use half of the cake for the first layer). Put half of the pudding over the cake. Sprinkle with the candy. Put half of the cool whip over the pudding. Repeat. Top cake with more heath chunks. THAT'S IT, BABY! If you have a nice clear glass bowl, this makes a gorgeous and delicious dessert, because you can see all the pretty layers. You can also make a fruit trifle - use vanilla cake mix, pistachio or vanilla pudding, strawberries and bananas, and cool whip. Be creative!

Ciao

Well, here I am! The words above are in Italian, and if you haven't picked up on it yet, they mean, "a blessed life." The word "blessed" basically sums up my feelings about this life of mine...sure, it's not perfect, but I am known and loved by God and a life with Him excites me! I'm pumped about blogger...I was getting a little sick of xanga and its little quirks.

Anyway, welcome! I'll have a real post up sometime soon.......