15 Years Ago

I chose to go to Tabor College.
I decided the week before it was time to leave that I'd just stay home.
But, I knew I was really going to go.
And I'm more than GLAD I did.

I met and moved in with Nicole.
I went "potluck" for a roommate. It took about 1.5 seconds until she was my new best friend. If I remember correctly, Rod Hamm (who a few days later became my head soccer coach) put us together as roommates. I don't know why he did (God told him to), but it was the totally right thing to do. I accidentally locked her out of our room the second or third day I knew her. She was barefoot, and we had to be at the chapel for our Sunday worship. Thankfully, another gal loaned her a pair of shoes. She loved me anyway. I was "HK"; she was "Nic"; and Tonya (another instant friend) was "T". There are absolutely NO WORDS to describe how much fun we had. Late nights, laughter like you've never heard, pranks, singing into hairbrushes, being the loudest table in the caf, long discussions about boys, eating olives while watching Oprah... we took the campus by storm (or at least we did in my mind). A few years later, she was my maid of honor, and a month after my wedding, I was her matron of honor. We don't see each other that often, and we don't talk as much as I'd like, but she is a forever friend. {Her birthday is tomorrow - happy birthday, Nic!}

I don't think there is anyone in the world who has or had more fun in college than I did. I get majorly sentimental when I think about my time at Tabor. I enjoyed almost every second of it. My heart melts a little every time I think of my time in college. I wish I could put it into words. I don't know if someone told me this, or if it was just this thought I came up with on my own...but I knew in my heart that choosing a college was one of the most important decisions in my life. I knew that I would get my degree there which would lead me to my future job/career. I knew that I would meet new people who would become my new friends and most likely influence my future. I knew that it was very likely that I'd meet my future husband which would drastically affect my future. I knew that everything stemmed from that decision. I was correct on all of it. Who knew I'd play soccer? Who knew that the game of soccer would impact my life for eternity with friends and my love of running and exercise? Who knew that soccer would restore my love for sports? Who knew that I'd marry Aaron who was from Colorado who wasn't MB who had family in Arizona which is how we ended up in the desert for 7 totally fun and unbelievable years and that he'd give me my Molly? Who knew I'd become an English teacher and teach 8th graders in a public school in Gilbert, Arizona and LOVE it? I could go on and on and on and on.

I'm thrilled because I found my Tabor College life-time athletic pass the other day. I thought I had lost it.
Tabor was worth every penny!
I am a Bluejay forever.

Quotes from the Catalogs

We are now removed from 72 catalog mailing lists.
I sometimes peruse the catalog while on hold to say, "I'd like to remove my address from your mailing list, please."

From one of today's catalogs:
"I'm so busy I don't know whether I found a rope or lost my horse." (t-shirt)
"My sister has the best sister in the world." (t-shirt)
"Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - Christopher Robin to Pooh (plaque)
"Beware: My dog can't hold its licker." (t-shirt)
"Friendship is a promise made in the hearts...unbreakable by distance, unchangeable by time." (plaque)
"You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard boiled egg." (t-shirt)
"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but all the letters are in order like they should be." (t-shirt)

Right now...

Molly just woke up from a nap.
During that nap, I got some things done & thought some thoughts.
And here we are...6:55 pm
Waiting for Aaron to get home.

As you can see in the background, we're still working on getting things unpacked around here.

Playing With My Baby Doll...Part 2

My dear friends and teaching mentors, Ilona and Jackie, came to see Molly and me this past week.
Just LOOK at what they brought her!!!!!!


Ilona's husband, Rod, crafted this for her. He's a carpenter, and I'm in awe over this cradle. I had truly been looking for something similar every time I entered an antique store. We borrowed my cousin's doll cradle right after Molly was born for some newborn photos. We had to give it back, but now she has one of her very own. Jackie, crocheted the baby blanket in the softest yarn ever. Both are lovely!

I had a terrific time visiting and catching up with them. I have to say the hugest "thank you" ever to them for all the insight, help, encouragement, and mentoring they gave me when I student taught with them and later when we kept in touch through emails. I will never forget Ilona handing me her 6-Traits of Writing binder during the summer so that I could gear up for teaching 5th grade writing. I barely knew what the 6-Traits were at that point, and now, I am sold hook, line, and sinker on them. I see that almost as my expertise in teaching, now. I will also never forget Jackie reading, The Boy Who Loved Clowns, to the fifth graders (and me). I sat there mesmerized by the way she read it, and I love the story. Even now, when I read it, I hear her voice. Both ladies are amazing, talented, and wonderful. I count it a huge blessing that the Lord led me to them.

Doll-Baby/Baby Doll

Let's meet my dolls.
Franni Delores ~ first Cabbage Patch Kid that I got at my roller skating party ~ who is visiting her grandparents at the farm right now and can't be bothered with photography.
Baby Caddy, my first doll (one of the dolls I didn't play with), Mandy, Kimberly, Elkie, one of my many Barbies, and Skipper.
At some point in a girl's life, she has to quit playing with dolls and "grow up".
{I haven't seen Toy Story III, but if my assumptions are correct, you could insert that movie here.}
Girls go to junior high, high school, and college.
Girls get married, and perhaps get a job such as teaching.
Dolls aren't really welcome in those areas of life.
She might get teased if, let's say, she takes her Cabbage Patch to Algebra III class in high school or macroeconomics in college or to teach English to her 8th graders.
However, she just might get another chance to play with dolls later in life.
For instance, I get to play with this doll. AND - I get to take her into public, and no one can make fun of me.
I get to dress her and feed her and rock her. I get to carry her, push her in the stroller, and put her in a doll bed (or crib).
Yes, I have a new baby doll, and she is the most fun, most precious, most adorable, sweet-thing there is.


1) I need to point out that if I had more time, I would have posed my dolls in an adorable tea party, but my real doll needs my time right now more than these dolls do.
2) Jill gave her the outfit that totally matches her nursery. In fact, everything that Jill sent matched her nursery. Jill is like that.
3) I am in LOVE with my doll's jean shorts. Just LOOK at those pockets.
4) My grandpa calls me sweet-thing.

Grandpa Dik

Grandpa Dik (Aaron's dad) scared us Monday with a heart attack.
We are so thankful he is doing better!
Praise the Lord!

4 Months

Once upon a time there was a baby named Molly.
Her mommy and daddy had to pinch themselves every day to make sure they weren't dreaming.
Because...it would seem that having such a sweetie would have to be a dream.
Molly makes their hearts overflow with love.
Molly makes them laugh at her adorable personality.
Molly is such a gift from the Lord.
To Be Continued...

Do It Anyway

Back in high school, Wendell Loewen was my youth pastor. He gave me this at some point - I think it might have been given to those of us going to Mexico on our missions trip.

DO IT ANYWAY! James 4:17
*People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
*If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
*If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
*The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
*Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
*The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
*People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for the underdog anyway.
*What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
*People really need help, but may attack you if you help them. Help people anyway.
*Give the world the best you've got and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you've got anyway.
from Victory over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson