Koinonia Chili Cookoff

Today couldn't have been a more perfect ending to a very long week. :) I love those types of Fridays.

casual days, woo!

1. Work. We survived! Meagan has been out all week enjoying a deserved vacation with her hubby Rob on a Mexican cruise. We had the task of adjusting to her absence and the work that came along with it, and managed to power through at a jet powered pace. I've got 10 new starts to add to our running least when Monday hits, and that's just to start. There was a level of productivity today alone that should be worth noting. I'm so proud of our little team! [but P.S. - Meagan, be advised you will be dragged from your house and to the office if you don't return on your own free will on Monday. Hehe.]

2. It was casual day at work. That in and of itself is a celebration. It makes our lives exponentially better just starting off the day sans fancy schmancy wardrobe. I'm all for it.

3. Small Group/Koinonia! We thought chili night would be totally appropriate, for one because everyone loves chili, but also because we've exhausted many of the other more popular options for dinner themes. As is custom with our small group, there was no shortage of delicious food, this time chili, all the fixings, salad, sides, and of course, desserts. On top of that, we had a stellar discussion time over our night's concentration on James 4. Jarod even joined us, and it looks like he might become a regular attendee. We are certainly growing! :) Good times, good times.

chili lovers unite | koinonia fridays ♥

4. Babies!! Well, in this case, just one, but he certainly stole quite the reaction out of all the gals in our group tonight. The Gobles are one of the couples with a new addition, and they bring him each week, along with their older son Jacob. Julie had little Evan giggling and giving us his big cheeky grin, and we were just eating it up. Adorable, adorable, friggin' adorable.

It's been a good day, ya'll.
Here's to the beginning of the weekend :)

xo | cmd

An Eagletriever?

wait, what? :)

I am more than happy to report that I spotted a small spec of reprieve today from this ridiculous bout of whatever it is that's been plaguing me for the majority of the week. I had more energy today than I've had over the last three days combined, and I made it all evening without a nap. Wa-hoo! For the first time all week, I actually felt better at the end of the day, as opposed to the beginning. Go figure. :)

In the meantime, I had someone pass along these silly little hybrids to me. I give due credit to the creative wanderings that led to these being created. I'll leave these for your meanderings. Meanwhile, I'm kinda glad that these original creatures were designed by God, and in the fashion He desired. Hah. Just sayin'. These are definitely fun to oogle at, though. Hah..

Tomorrow = FRIDAY!

Friday = Small Group!

Small Group = Amazing, always :)

 xo | cmd

Day 3. Stoppppp :(



... and counting. :(

 I am typically a fairly enduring person when it comes to being sick. However, today was the closest I've been in quite a while to taking something to appease the headcold. *Sigh.. I didn't, but hot dog did I nearly collapse into just doing it. haha.

No church for me tonight. Joe & Sydni are on their way out now to go; I'm on my way out too.... to bed.  

*Toughin it out!

xo | cmd

Sick Day Numero Dos.

[ ^ NEED.]

Yep.

Still sick.

That's all.

xo | cmd

Cough Sniffle Cough.

Oh man. I am sick. I mean that in the most literal way you could imagine. I am flat out sick. I totally understand that we're all daily inching towards the end of our time here, but today had to be the max-capacity accelerated version of that for me. Don't ask me how I made it through today. I don't remember.

remember this? i wish i could've done this today...

Meagan is gone on vacation all this week, and Courtney called off sick today. That left Nancy and I to our own devices, and me the exhausted heap of sniffling, sneezing, and wheezing that I am right now.

Good night, for the second time this evening...

xo | cmd

Oh, What a Beautiful D A Y

1. LIFE IS GOOD.
B. LIFE IS GOOD.
3. LIFE. IS. GOOOOOOOOD!

What a truly beautiful little day this turned out to be!



hello, tiny toms!

  We started off the day with breakfast together before Joe had to go in to work. I was fairly bummed that he had to work this morning, especially since my parents were here and we were gearing up for a loaded church service. Sydni insisted on donning her purple sparkly shoes, so the TOMS made their first public appearance this morning, as well. Loved it...

she dressed herself this morning - not too bad!



becky & tom's baptisms | children's choir!

We didn't quite make it in time for Sunday school, but we were definitely there with plenty of time to get settled in before choir and the baptisms started. Nick & Rebecca, the new couple we met at the Sandvens, made it for their first Sunday. It was a whirlwind of a morning; the children's choir debuted for the year, and not one, but two of our small group members were baptized!

Congratulationsssssssss!!!! Tom & Becky, it was a blessing watching you be baptized. [Our small group rocks!] Major kudos, too, to the children's choir. It was definitely a great morning.

Once church was over, our entire small group rallied together at Bdubs to celebrate the two baptisms.

Back at home, Sydni and I resigned ourselves to a long afternoon nap. This is perfect example of the conversation Joe and I had regarding the fact that whenever we are around my parents, be it here or back in Ohio, we always want to sleep. It's absolutely not that we're that bored or disenchanted by the company; I think rather it's such a super sense of relaxation and peace that makes us want to just kick back and snooze for a bit. Today was no different, except that when I finally woke up, I felt like crap. [Boo. On. THAT.]

My parents leave tomorrow morning, and we go back to the week. Here's hoping I feel .. much.. better... tomorrow.

xo | cmd

Sydni Saturdays



i am so in love.

Today was allll about Sydni. Well, for Mom & me at least. Dad & Joe took off mid morning to explore downtown Belleville, and to stop off at the little hot dog dive that Jimmy & Alex introduced to Joe a few months back.

Rewind back to first thing this morning, when I woke up to find this little sneak fast asleep. I couldn't resist capturing the moment :)

Once she was up and rearing her silly hair, as she calls it, Sydni wasted no time in coercing some hot cereal and a movie out of her Nana & Pappy. She knows full well that she can wriggle anything she wants out of her grandparents; I certainly don't blame her for taking advantage of that. Haha.

Mom & I spent the day around the house, and after a house-wide early afternoon nap, the three of us headed out to do some grocery shopping & last minute errands. Dad & Joe rendezvoused with us back at the house just in time for dinner and a half game of Phase 10. We called it quits right around phase 6 or 7, but only because it took us forever to get there, and eyelids around the table started drooping.



phase 10



It's been an excellent day, and we're all spent.

Tomorrow's gonna be a great church service: two of our small group members are getting baptized, and the Sleemans are likely going to visit for the first time! Time to rest up :)

xo | cmd