Friday, January 25, 2008

Potpourri Friday

This is what we woke up to this morning! (This is where you pretend you are looking at a picture of my backyard dumped on by snow. For whatever reason, my pictures won't load today argh!) My goodness - I don't know what's going on - we never get snow in this "banana belt" we live in. The mountains get snow - but we don't - just a skiff now and then. But this is the third or fourth time we have been deumped on this winter. Thank goodness for global warming - we would have to dig out of our houses without it! It was 5 degrees yesterday. 5 degrees!

I don't know where this week went. Well, yes I do. Chuck and Jessica came home from Argentina and I have taken some days off work and we have just been spending time together. They have almost finished telling me every detail that happened to them. They had a great experience. Several have asked if this Work and Witness trip was sponsored through the Nazarene Church. Yes, it was. We pastor in a Nazarene Church. In fact, I am a born and bred Nazarene - not that it matters - just an interesting fact. My husband was raised Baptist but when he was a teenager his family moved and there was no Baptist church so they became Nazarene. Not that it matters either. I have always been of the belief that it doesn't really matter what your "first" name is, as long as your "last" name is Christian!

Anyway, this trip was called Extreme Argentine and hundreds of volunteer missionaries went to Pilar, Argentina to help complete a huge convention center our missionaries are building. It's primary purpose is to be used as a training center for the many pastors that are being called to the many church plants that are popping up. There isn't time to send them to the states for schooling - so they are doing it there. They can't afford to only use the building for that, so it will also be rented out for conventions and conferences. It's a great idea. It's such a poor community - it had been inspiring to all the people who live there. While they were there they also spent a lot of time helping the church plants. My husband put a new roof on a home of a family with 10 children. It was a one room home. Chuck said he worried they were going to knock the whole house down by working on the roof. Poverty is at a whole different level than anything we know here. I think in our country, our poverty is more of a spiritual nature. Anyway, that's a topic for another time. We sent 23 missionaries and half of them came home this week and the other half will return next week.

I am so glad to have my family home! I love cooking for them. And spending my day with them. They had bedbugs so they kept all their luggage outside in the frigid cold and I am washing every little thing they packed. I don't mind - it's just good to have them home!

Michelle and I bought the fabric for her nursery layette and I have started it. She chose a dark blue star fabric, a light blue contrast, and a bright yellow. We think it will work for either a boy or a girl. She is not going to find out the sex next week. Although she said I could if I wanted to - that way I would know what colors to knit and sew. I'm debating that one - I don't know if it's a secret I want to keep for another 4 1/2 months! But we get to go to the ultrasound - I can't wait!
Here is a picture of the fabric. And I just finished the crib quilt. I love it - it's so soft and comfy. (This is where you pretend to be looking at a picture of an adorable little crib quilt - it really is cute!)

And thank to Barb at A Chelsea Morning, I have gone a little bit crazy making these adorable burp cloths. (Yep, you got it, pretend you are looking at a stack of 24 burp rags!) They are fun and easy and I've been making them in all sorts of colors. What great gifts they will make. The sweater is coming along. I am pretty sure it won't be done in time for Michelle's birthday - but I'll keep plugging away on it. It's fun to learn more about knitting.

Well, I've got to go. I'm going out for brunch with my husband and then I'm going to the store to buy the ingredients for a Mexican Tortilla Soup recipe I've been wanting to try. I'll let you know how it tastes.

Next week should be back to more of normal. Whatever normal is! But I will be posting and blogging more - like I normally do. Have a great weekend!

5 comments:

gail@more than a song said...

I'm glad they're home and had a good trip! It's sleeting some here but don't think we'll get snow.
I love your pretend pictures! Maybe you can show us the real ones later....can't wait to see all the stuff you're making for the baby!

Unknown said...

Tortilla soup is a staple around here. It is so easy in the crock pot. I just take my portion out before I cut up the chicken and return it to the soup. Everyone is happy!

I really want to see REAL pictures. Try again another day :)

Dawn said...

So now I know that Jimmy and Zeida were around somewhere, because they were very involved in this explosive W&W adventure.

Too bad about the pictures!

Kelli said...

It sounds like you have been busy! I'm glad to hear that your family is home safe and sound!
Kelli

Mishel said...

So glad you were able to spend time with family! And oh...I don't know if I'd be able to resist not peeking at the gender of the baby!! I think I'd peek! : )