A Lucado Lesson

So I’m just about halfway through a book Joe bought me for Christmas:

one a day | momentos for thought

Today I read the entire excerpt and felt like I needed to share it with the world.

This is from June 29, and it’s titled, A Soft Tap at the Door:

But be holy in all you do,
just as God, the One who called you, is holy.

~ 1 Pe 1:15

I have something against the lying voices that noise our world. You’ve heard them. They tell you to swap your integrity for a new sale. To barter your convictions for an easy deal. To exchange your devotion for a quick thrill.

            They whisper. They woo. They taunt. They tantalize. They flirt. They flatter. “Go ahead, it’s OK.” “Don’t worry, no one will know.”

            The world rams at your door; Jesus taps at your door. The voices scream for your allegiance; Jesus softly and tenderly requests it. The world promises flashy pleasure; Jesus promises a quiet dinner… with God.

            Which voice do you hear?

                                                                        ~ In the Eye of the Storm

Somethin’ to think about, right?

Amen. Amen.

xo | cmd

Make Up Your Mind

Well, Tuesday this week wasn’t anything on which I’d brag, but what I did manage to find interesting was this little bumper sticker duo.

umm?



Did I miss something, or does this only seem weird to me?

Hmm. I should’ve tailed them and asked.

Yeah, Tuesday. Yeah.

xo | cmd

Softball! Nope, Just Kidding.

Nah, I don’t wanna talk about work. I’m not on speaking terms with the quality of my job right now. *Hissssss.

In other news…

The good thing about not living on base is that we have that separation of work life and home life. Granted, there are many benefits of residing on SAFB grounds, but we opted to settle off base. The most noticeable downside of not having all of our Air Force friends as neighbors is that we don’t see them as often outside of work hours as we might if we were just a few doors down. That being said, it was nice to have Lorne over for a few hours to hang out, even if it was coincidentally because softball was cancelled due to soggy fields. Ha. We’ll take it. 

addicted.

Yep. That + pizza = entertainment for about the same duration as two church softball games. I’d say that it was a pretty good substitute for stomping around a muddy diamond for four hours J.

Tomorrow’s Tuesday, again.

See ya next week, Monday!

xo | cmd

A[n actual] Day of REST...

scott | sun & water | beauty at the base

Let’s talk about lazy days…

This was one of those lazy days.

I honestly don’t have much to report; for the first time in quite some time, Joe and I didn’t have a single thing on the agenda today other than church, and a late evening soccer game at Vetta. Other than that, we really did, in fact, do nothing but relax at home and hang out with Sydni all day long.

This is the stuff weekends are made of. ♥

See ya tomorrow…

xo | cmd

Golfing Guys & Galleria Girls

galleria | st. louis, mo



Yeah, shopping. *Kidding.* I’m not a huge free-shopper, meaning that I pretty much lack the ability to and am also not a fan of mall-walking and window shopping. I’m more of the need-it?-ok,-go-get-it-and-be-done kinda girl. So this was a refreshing change of scenery, more or less.

The day started with Joe, Sydni and I loading up and trekking to the Kobularciks’ on base. One of the Sandven’s were there, along with Nick & Caitlin. The boys took care of transferring all the golf clubs into our car, strapped in 1 of the 2 Kobularcik boys, and headed off for a day of golf.

Meanwhile, I stayed behind with Sydni, Caitlin, Bonnie, and the smaller of her two boys. We spent some time relaxing and enjoying the mid-morning weather from her back patio before loading up into her Subaru and setting off for the Galleria in St. Louis.

just keep shopping.....

Hi, 3-story mall.

Sure, it’s not the Mall of America, but for being so accessible, it will definitely quench the thirst of any local wandering shopaholic. Needless to say, we barely covered a quarter of the mall before we left, but it was worth the trip and admittedly nice to have some adult female company (nothing personal, Syd).

Back home, it was a quick sprint from the Kobularcik’s to the Sandven’s for a grill out. We managed to beat the rain, and had a fun evening of grilling out, playgrounds, conversation, and of course, cornhole.

Not too shabby for a first weekend back, I’d say. =]

xo | cmd

Coffee Table? Check.

Here’s a reality check for me: Today, I will not visit any national parks.

*Super, super sad me.*

What to do instead? Well, it’s back to the real world that is Belleville, so I figured I would make the very most of it and tie up some of the loose aesthetic ends in our newly-settled home.

= Coffee Table.



hooray, surface space!

It’s nothing extravagant, but it will serve its purpose and I’ve already taken quite a liking to it. Plus, it’s always a little less complicating trying to watch a movie without juggling any edibles (and sometimes child, too) in your lap. We’re proud of this addition. Ah, the simple things. Haha.

And really? That’s just about all I did today. Aside from somehow maneuvering a table into the back of my car with two full-size cornhole boards and a carseat, I was quite the unproductive sight.

Tonight was another session of small group Bible study at our pastor’s home. We’re still talking about how to raise children without raising our blood pressure. If it were up to me, we’d continue this track indefinitely. Ha.

But heeeeey, it’s the weekend… and we finally get to sleep in!

xo | cmd

Home Sweet Home

Sam finally had to face reality and go back to work, so Kalyn and I decided to hit the pool. But no, not just any pool. This pool is part of a gorgeous resort lodged into the hillside above Sam’s apartment complex.

falls resort | phoenix

We set up camp just after 9:30AM, and it was already 94 degrees. We took advantage of the resort’s waterfall, waterslide, and even attempted some water volleyball. I honestly wouldn’t have any qualms going there every day for even just a few hours. It’s serene!



pools | waterslide exit



waterfall!



Once we decided we had baked for long enough, we grabbed some Chinese and headed back to the apartment to cool down and eat.

I packed my bag, and, in true Cori fashion, did not include the D90. Of course I would leave behind my camera; fortunately, it’s in good hands until I get it back, and for what it’s worth, I didn’t lose it anywhere. *Whew. Kalyn and I set out to venture into Phoenix for a bit before I had to head to the airport, and stumbled upon an adorable little row of stores with all the handmade, Indie, and vintage stuff we could want. I snagged another string doll at Frances for my collection before we headed off to the airport.



frances boutique | stinkweeds record shop



frances'

cute kids tables | toms inventory

Flying standby can always create a little apprehension, but luckily for me, the flights weren’t nearly filled and I got seat for a direct flight back to St. Louis. Joe met me at the airport and we drove home.

string dolls

Tomorrow, I’ll tell him all about the trip. Right now, I’m spent.

Loves.

xo | cmd

THE GRAND CANYON!! [& Sedona, too!]

I officially ♥ Arizona.

Well, at least Sedona & The GC.

bell rock | sedona!

After sleeping in to a whopping 8:30AM [we’re crazy like that, *smirk], the three of us loaded up in the Benz [yeah, I said it] with first destination: Sedona. Kalyn drove us up there, and I had the liberty of riding shotgun in the White Spaceship [aka Mercedes C-Class] through the gorgeous landscapes of Arizona on the way to Sedona.



benz c class



delicious.



We stopped at the Sedona Olive Oil Company for an open tasting; I very well could’ve stayed there all day if it weren’t for the impending appointment with the Grand Canyon. We were educated on the truth behind vinaigrettes, their origins, and how to discern between a real vin and an imposter. Fascinating. I have a form for ordering, because although snagging a bottle of $16 vinaigrette was tempting, I have no desire to check my bag at the airport on Thursday for its sake. We lunched at one of the touristiest [new word, chya….] places around, meaning the food’s well-overpriced and pretty lame at the same time.

After choking down some weak margherita pizza and what I’m convinced was just a melted craft cheese square quesadilla, we set out for the canyon of grandeur, as it should aptly be credited. We rendezvoused with Aly and another park ranger, and tailed her back into the park. [[THANKS!]]

aly | our very own park ranger!

While I was absolutely breathless by the intrinsic beauty of this national park, I was sorely disappointed that Joe couldn’t have been there to share that moment. I made myself a promise that we would take another trip out this way as a family and we would go there together. Of course, throwing in a planned hike and/or a camping trip wouldn’t hurt, either. ;) As I stood marveling at this creation whose scenery reflects the inherent spirit of the one who created it, I was refreshed. I can’t explain it, but I needed this. Thank you, Lord.

the. grand. canyon. || thank you, lord.

Here’s a true story: we’re immersed deep in elk territory, yet are still waiting to set eyes on an actual elk. So we’re driving back from the canyon, conversing about horseback riding when I spot four very large silhouettes perched on a bank right along the roadside. Before I could spit it out, we had zoomed right past the largest bull elk I’ve ever seen. We turned around just to see them again, but, instead of intelligently reacting when we spotted them the second time, we screamed at them through open windows like 12-year-olds a Bieber concert.

Not my proudest moment.

BUT, it doesn’t change the fact that we did see them and they were incredible, from their towering body size to their massive antlers. Good stuff.

Long day. National park #3, in 3 days. Tomorrow I fly back to MO/IL. It’s bittersweet.

Time to dream about the Canyon….   

xo | cmd

National Park #2 || ARIZONA!



national park #2 : painted desert & petrified forest

Our final leg of the trip into Arizona was interrupted when we whizzed past one of those telltale brown signs indicating proximity to a national park. We had to. So there we were, turning off the highway onto the entrance drive to the Petrified Forest National Park in AZ.

We ended up driving all the way through the painted desert and the petrified forest, stopping along the way to take pictures and convince Kalyn not to smuggle out a piece of shiny rock-wood for a necklace. Ha. We were shocked when we left that the park ranger’s version of inspecting our vehicle [for illegally collected items] was her saying, “Did you do any collecting today?”

“No.”

“Okay, have a great day.”

Really? Well, I guess they can’t legally force you to submit to a full search, but it seemed silly that that’s all they did to control the inventory of a national park. *Sigh.

petrified wood

petrified forest || pretty pieces

saguaro field



Moving on, we jumped back onto the road and picked back up on our planned itinerary, which meant we were headed to our final destination: Sam’s apartment. We pulled into the driveway and took deep breaths of relief that we had safely navigated our way across the country and had arrived whole. We wasted very little time unloading the mini trailor attached to Kalyn’s jeep and transferring her life into Sam’s place. Sam’s uncle Fred came by to help with the heavy lifting. Kalyn and I made dinner and then the four of us played a little pool volleyball before calling it a night.

 

Tomorrow = Grand Canyon!

**exciiiiiiiiiiiiiiited. J

xo | cmd

Rocky Mountains, Sand Dunes, & Albuquerque

world's best shower, ever



Haha. If you’ve ever been forced to go without showering for a few days, or if you’ve just endured a night tenting in 45 degree weather with 50+ mph winds, than a hot shower paired with solid water pressure will be one of the best showers you’ve ever had. That was our thinking this morning out of the KOA showers after a ridiculous night that was more riddled with sleep than filled with it.



rain in co. springs

Once on the road, it was a soggy entrance into Colorado Springs. That meant the Rocky Mountains were shrouded with fog and haze; we were sad our first glance of the mountains was dampened by the weather. We saw some light once we parked at the Omelette Parlour in Colorado Springs.



omelette parlor

We definitely put our diets on hold for this trip, but know this: It was worth every bite. Ha.

After brunch, the weather seemed to clear some, and those majestic Rockies came out of hiding. They’re absolutely breathtaking, and even though we were unable to see Pike’s Peak, but what we did see was enough to make us smile and get us going on our way.



great sand dunes national park



Kalyn found a national park that was about 20 minutes off our path, but we figured the opportunity to see this would hardly present itself so willingly again anytime soon. Off we were: Great Sand Dunes National Park.

If you’ve never seen these dunes, my saying they are incredible does them little justice, if any at all. They’re created by sands off the Rockies, and the only place in the world these exact type of dunes are found. Pretty intriguing, to me at least. So it was there that we ate lunch, took some silly pictures, and got back on the road.



sand dunes & rocky mountains .... and jumping kids :)



best friends | enjoying the landscape!



 Don’t ask me how, but somehow we atlas’d ourselves around Santa Fe, but we were taking a scenic route and figured bypassing to Albuquerque would be just as good as anything else. We stopped for dinner at the Church Street Café, and enjoyed some fajitas, taco salad, and Pacifico to a soundtrack of a strung out guitarist ;)



albuquerque, nm!

Since our first attempt to sleep on the road wasn’t a complete success, we opted for bunking in an actual hotel tonight: Sleep Inn in Gallup, NM. It’s another early day tomorrow!

xo | cmd

On the ROAD!

get ready

And we… are… OFF!

Sam and Kalyn stayed at our place last night, and around 9:30 this morning, the three of us loaded up into her jeep and jumped on the highway for their 2^nd day, my first, on the road from Cincinnati to Phoenix.

heading to kansas

We were pretty excited when we hit Kansas City, somehow thinking we were making pretty decent headway. It wasn’t until we hit the meat of Kansas that we quickly realized that it consisted of windmills, and ……………. Nothing else, really.

No, seriously. Kansas is flatter than a pancake, literally. Aside from the windmills, there is not a single intriguing thing to see while driving straight across this state. It took all three of us to conquer the plains of KS before I struck gold on my turn and flew past the Welcome to Colorado sign before we had a chance to celebrate it. [Don’t worry, we stopped at the border of CO & NM to capture the sign!]

colorful colorado!

Once we crossed onto the grounds of CO and in spite of Sam’s urging to find a hotel, Kalyn and I were determined to camp out. We found a KOA in Limon, CO. We checked in and found our little tent plot nestled in the midst of a crowd of RV’s. Fortunately for us, there was a wooden fence no more than 8 feet long and 7 feet high behind which we claimed our spot. Against our better judgment, we unloaded and pitched a tent in 50+mph winds and a dropping temperature of 48 degrees at that point. We found ourselves with clogged tent poles with no other option than to Macgyver the staking and climb inside as quickly as possible to help prevent the whole setup from blowing away.

If you think I’m exaggerating, I promise you, I’m not. It. Was. Cold. We had two blankets, two pillows, and a sleeping bag. Needless to say, it was an interesting night.

tenting in limon, co | bad idea.

Tomorrow is back on the road: Colorado Springs, the Rocky Mountains, and Santa Fe, NM!

Oh, and P.S. – Not to put a damper on the excitement of our journey westward, but today would’ve been Jena Fogle-Blake’s 27^th birthday. You are always missed, but never forgotten, friend. <3

xo | cmd-

St. Louis Zoo || Kalyn & Sam

Ya’ll know how much we love visiting the zoo (any zoo). Today we decided to take Sydni to the St. Louis Zoo, which is one of the few zoos that offer free admission while still maintaining appearances and interesting displays. Plus, the place is huge.

st. louis zoo

After the zoo, we headed back home. We made a pitstop and grabbed a new game for the Wii, just in case we needed a little extra for entertaining guests later on.

As it turns out, KP & Sam showed up and we ended up heading to base for a bit to play some volleyball by the base campground lake before heading back to the house for some old school NES Mario and calling it a day.

nes, buddy.

Saying prayers tonight for Joe & Sydni: I’ll be gone for about four days and they’ll be on their own for that time. I’m hoping all goes smoothly!

xo | cmd

Bible Study @ The Woods'

Calm Friday here at the newly established Dills residence: laundry, vacuuming, dishes, and errands. Pretty standard stuff. I managed to get everything finished in spite of Sydni’s incessant urge to help me accomplish all the tasks of the day. When it’s all said and done, even though I’m backtracking and backtracking and backtracking some more, it’s just another Mom-ism that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

t - o - y - s.

pastor ron woods & his wife debbie

Tonight we headed to our pastor’s house for the our 2^nd session of Bible Study. We’re working on a track right now entitled, “How to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Blood Pressure.” Kyle & Amy joined us this week, and brought Tessa to go play downstairs with Sydni and the other kids from couples attending. We’ve only been coming to this study group for two weeks now, but I’m developing a sincere appreciation for it, for this new church we’ve found, and for the people who have welcomed us so openly.

Kalyn & Sam are coming in tomorrow night, and on Sunday I’ll head out with them on the road to Arizona!

xo | cmd

Veggie Tales

Sydni got her first taste of Veggie Tales today, and I was reminded of why, even though they represent great Christian messages, I can still only handle those animated little characters in moderation.

Today we sat through The Wonderful Wizard of Ha’s, which is the Veggie Tales adaptation of The Wizard of Oz [if for some reason you didn’t make that connection]. While I find the appropriate re-designing of little details to create kid-friendly comprehension [ex.:

Yellow Brick Road

= Yellow McToad].

Once Joe was done with work, he and Kyle came back to the house for dinner and some Wii. Kyle and Amy earned spots on the Mii board, so in the event we ever decide to invest into two more controllers, we’re all set.

Miss Sydni was more than excited to spend the evening showing off her baby to our guest. She’s such a good little mommy, that is, if catapulting babydoll out of the play stroller before using it to smack the dog in the behind is considered good mommy’ing. So we’ve still got a little work to do… We’ll get there.

TG[T]IF! [tomorrow]

xo | cmd

Backyard Swimmin'

One of the benefits of our particular townhome is that we have a pool that literally replaces a backyard. We were fearful that it would become too noisy with all the kids in the neighborhood, but so far it’s hardly been noticeable, even when the place is at full capacity.

While Joe was at work, Sydni and I decided to step outside and see what it was like. I learned today that she’s quite the little fish, and I have no doubts that with a few lessons down the road, she’ll be a pro.



lil' sunbather

 

fishy!

Joe & I watched Dinner for Schumcks tonight; it was interesting, if nothing else. I don’t think we’ll buy this one, but it wasn’t the worst thing we’ve ever seen.

Looks like tomorrow, we’re having a dinner guest: Kyle’s coming since Amy and Tessa are still out of town in Minnesota. We’re praying for safe travel mercies when they come back on Sunday!

xo | cmd

Errands Galore

Yep. Pretty much that is what comprised the entire day.

First stop: Airman’s Attic. We dropped off some things and picked up a few other things, one of which was an old desktop computer keyboard. We have nothing with which it needed connected, but Sydni has this persistant fascination with all of our laptop keyboards, so I figured she’d enjoy her own set of alpha-numerics she could hammer without getting swatted away by one of us.

airman's attic

Second Stop: Commissary. We needed some granola bars, and it’s right across the street. We may have picked up some other munchies while we were at it, but that’s neither here nor there ;)

Third stop: Redbox. Droppin’ off movies, renting some more kiddie flicks to keep her occupied while I clean at home.

my tall red friend

Fourth stop: Salvation Army. We dropped off yet some more stuff there, with my favorite volunteer worker whose jolly laugh is absolutely contagious and always seems to be on duty when I come through ridding our car of bins.. and bins.. and bins. We went inside this time, and managed to find a few little treasures of our own to take home with us, too.

Fifth stop: Post office. Yeah, I’ve been here for almost a month and am just now changing my forwarding address. Oops.

Last stop: Wal-Mart. Don’t tell Joe; we all know how much he hates that place. However, while running errands is tedious enough sometimes, adding a toddler to the mix does the opposite of saving time. Since Syd was with me, I didn’t bother hunting for the nearest hardware store or other lock and key place, because everyone also already knows Wal-Mart takes care of copying keys. What I didn’t know was that Joe’s Honda key has some sort of transmitter chip embedded inside [you’d never be able to tell by lookin’ at the thing]. Therefore, copying that key apparently would’ve cost upward $40+, so needless to say, we’ll survive off the one we have and just say daily prayer that we don’t ever lose or break it. Sheesh.

At home, we unloaded all of our days’ acquired trinkets and put them away before cuddling up for an afternoon watching little cartoon people tell us how to count and memorize the alphabet. It was … educational. Haha.  

Oh yeah, and it’s Cicada season here. Lovely.

Not really. Oh well.

yeah cicada.... yeah.

xo | cmd