Trunk-or-Treat

It has been a weekend for the record books and the whipped cream on top was spending time with our beloved church family this afternoon at our annual trunk-or-treat!  Paul in his prison cell handed out candy to Batmans, princesses, transformers, and cowboys.  This was all while two Roman soldiers battled for their lives and Jonah and the whale taught kids to fish.  It was a really fun filled afternoon.

The rest of the weekend, including fender-benders and a rapper dog will have to wait till tomorrow's post because I'm going to bed.

Fall

You really can't help but love the crunchiness of a brisk fall walk.

I found the following poem about autumn and found it hauntingly beautiful...

Autumnal Sonnet

Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods,

And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt,

And night by night the monitory blast

Wails in the key-hold, telling how it pass'd

O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes,

Or grim wide wave; and now the power is felt

Of melancholy, tenderer in its moods

Than any joy indulgent summer dealt.

Dear friends, together in the glimmering eve,

Pensive and glad, with tones that recognise

The soft invisible dew in each one's eyes,

It may be, somewhat thus we shall have leave

To walk with memory,--when distant lies

Poor Earth, where we were wont to live and grieve

William Allingham

Thought

Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.

Henry David Thoreau

My Favorite

I've been considering what to post about for my next adventure and decided that Pepsi deserves a big spot in the blog.  Especially since she has such a big spot in our lives.  Pepsi was born in the country out past War Eagle Mill.  Allen and I found her on the internet and took Rachel with us to pick her up.  I insisted that we were just going to "LOOK" at her, but the wriggly little rag won my heart and before I knew it...the little mess was riding home in my lap.

(She looks precious in this picture like she's cuddling with daddy...but really he has her in a headlock -gently of course- to keep her out of trouble for a second)

She was crazy when we picked her up and sometimes she still is.  

(For a while she became fascinated with hangers, and one day I turned around to find this ;)

But now: a lot of the time she is chill and just hangs around with us

(This is her "elf" ear look.)

Everybody always asks why we named her Pepsi...really there is not a great reason.  We were drinking Pepsi on the way home from picking her up and her "pep" and vivaciousness just seemed to fit with the name.  Rachel will tell you we almost named her Delilah.  We did, but I'm glad we didn't.  It was a consideration, but I think Pepsi was a good choice.  

Since we brought her home in fall of 2008, our lives have changed a lot.  We moved from Rogers, Arkansas to Bloomington, Indiana and I went from an optician working 40 hours a week to a full time student.  Allen left his substituting in Arkansas and took a full time job at Wal-Mart.  She has been with us through leaving our homes and making a new one, she greets us at the door every time one of us comes home, she has helped us in making new friends, and she is a part of our family that we love very much.  

Who could be homesick or sad for long with such an enthusiastic adventure partner?

And who wouldn't love the heavy snows when a part of your family adores it as the most amazing time of the year?

She actually is hilarious in deep snow because her legs are so short!  If it gets above a foot, she basically has to antelope hop from place to place.  But, she's delighted with this mode of transportation and can't wait to do it again this year.   She's a cold weather dog for sure.

She's also an amazing swimmer and loved a camping trip we made with our friends Brandon and Sally

She loves Allen and I very much and you should see the racket she makes especially when she hears Allen's car pull into the parking lot.  I always know that he is home way before he opens the door because she starts whining and expectantly watching for him to come in.

She has grown up to be a good dog and a good friend.  She'll ride with you anywhere and go on any adventure.  

I wouldn't trade her for the world.  

Oh, and no matter what anybody tells you, she is NOT a girly-girl!  She hates this picture of a bow in her hair and definitely refused to keep it in for more than 20 seconds.  But mom thinks it is hilarious. ;)

Wednesday's Words I Love

Bringing back the Wednesday's Words I Love! 

<3

One must learn by doing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.-Aristotle 

Chariots of Fire

The following is my favorite story in the Old Testament:

2 Kings 6:11-17

  And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" ¹²And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." ¹³And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." ¹⁴So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

 ¹⁵When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" ¹⁶He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." ¹⁷Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Elisha was about to be attacked and captive, but through faith, he knew that the Lord would protect him.  And he was right.  I would love to be able to open my eyes and see horses and chariots of fire surrounding me when I am afraid and being attacked.  Through faith, I know that the Lord has already won the fight with this world and that nothing can touch me that He does not allow.  

We talked about the following verses in Wednesday night Bible class last night.  Its so easy to forget whose children we are, and who we are actually fighting against, but we can't allow ourselves to be beaten up by the enemy because we are the Children of God and He protects us and has given us everything we need for protection.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.


Ephesians 6:18

Love Again

Sanctus Real - Lay Down My Guns

Well I just need a place to lay my head 

Forget the chain that hangs around my neck 

These guns are not as heavy as the hearts they defend 

I can't wait to get back home where I can find some rest

When I lay down my guns and lift my hands

Surrender to Love and live again

May this desert reach its end where my new life begins

When I lay down my guns and lift my hands

And I have seen the devil in this place 

And I lost myself when my friends found the grave

When you're this far from Heaven 

It's hard to keep the faith 

I'm barely holding on

I can't wait to 

Lay down my guns and lift my hands

Surrender to Love and live again

May this desert reach its end where my new life begins

When I lay down my guns and lift my hands

And I'm laying down these burdens

Taking off the weights 

And I can't count the miles that I've walked to find my way 

To lay down these guns

How I need to lay down these guns

Lay down my guns and lift my hands

Surrender to Love and live again

May this desert reach its end where my new life begins

And I'll abandon my defenses and live to love again

When I lay down my guns and lift my hands

Lay down

Lay down

Lay down my guns

Soup Explosion

So....Saturday......first I exploded a bowl of soup...but we won't go into that.

My good friends, Tristan, JulieAnne, Bradley, JD, Jenny, and Heather wanted to go to a cornfield maze.  Allen and I were excited and ready to go and we started off to meet them at 3 o'clock, loving the drive.  Indiana is gorgeous right now.  The trees couldn't be prettier and the weather was amazing.  I was planning on getting some awesome pics and a story for the blog.  Well, here it is.

We drove North on highway 37.

Unfortunately, Tristan, JulieAnne, Bradley, JD, Jenny, and Heather drove South.

There are two Lark Ranch Corn Mazes in Indiana.

  http://www.larkranch.com/about.html

So, Allen and I drove into Greenfield, with no idea that instead of being minutes from our friends, we were actually 3 hours away.  Allen and I were standing by the water tower and I was talking to JulieAnne..."where are you?"...."by the water tower"...."ok, I'm walking toward you"..."wave your hands"...."everybody's waving their hands"..."what are you talking about, nobodies around here"..."uh oh"...."I'm touching the water tower"....."I'm touching the water tower too"........................................

The distance between Greenfield and Loogootee is 130 miles, or about 3 hours.



Epic Fail.

Whoops...

What can I say?

Next time, I'll double check and spend a little more time looking at the website as we're rushing out the apartment door.

But, no worries, we had fun anyway.  We found a car show that had a Willy's Wagon!  WOOT! for Allen!  :)  He was so exited.  The builder of this particular Willy's was really nice and told Allen all about where to get parts for his project and who to talk to and everything.  Plus, we got to look at this awesome car. 

We also ate at one of the best pizza places in the US: UNO's!!

  

http://www.unos.com/

Their pizza crust tastes like pie dough.

Does something about making lemonade come to mind?

Oh my, what am I going to do with myself. ;)

Treasure Hunt

Allen was off Monday and Tuesday of this week.  This is not the most ideal arrangement, since these are two of my "busy" days.  But, with some re-arranging I was able to join him Monday afternoon for a much anticipated metal detecting trip to Lake Monroe.  The last time we were in Arkansas, Allen had been poking around in his dad's shed and found his long-lost metal detector.  His stories of combing Beaver Lake and finding printing plates from the 1900's inspired me with dreams of treasure.  He warned that most of what you find is junk, but I thought even a couple of quarters would be nice.  So, Pepsi, Allen, and I set off.  We went to the boat dock just beyond the dam and began sweeping the detector up and down the shore line.

In a few minutes...beep, beep, beep...we found something!  I dug with a stick for a few moments before coming up with a piece of unidentifiable tin...we continued searching and digging a few more feet and minutes, finding 3 bottle tabs, when I looked down and notice a geode. :)  I knew what it was because these are fairly common in Arkansas and I had found one as a child.  I called it my "potato rock."  They are ugly, lumpy, and round on the outside, but if you break them open, beautiful crystals are hidden.

Quickly abandoning the search for metal treasure, Allen and I started searching for more geodes.  Some were whole and unbroken, and some already revealed their treasures inside.

Allen broke one of the smaller ones by smashing it between two rocks.  He also bruised his hand pretty well.  Pepsi wanted to help in any way possible.  At one point, Allen rolled a geode down the slope intending for me to catch it, but I missed and it fell into the lake.  Pepsi saw this and in spite of the 65 degree temperature did not hesitate to dive in after.  She couldn't find it because it sunk to the bottom and she only knows how to swim on top, but she really tried.  I felt bad for her and ended up taking off my shoes and socks, rolling up my pants and wading in to show her that "daddy's" treasure was safe.

At first we only found little geodes, maybe 3-4 inches in diameter, but as we followed the shore away from the parking lot, our finds got bigger.

We also found a turtle which Pepsi was petrified of.  It must have been making some sound or smell that Allen and I could not detect, but whatever it was, Pepsi thought we should definitely stay away!  I couldn't get him to come out of his shell for a picture, but here he is all closed-up.

Our metal detecting adventure and equipment was abandoned, but we did have a very nice trip through the woods and we found treasure that was much better than the couple of quarters I had hoped for.  Allen brought a couple of geodes home and even ran the prettiest one through my dish-washer (I was a little skeptical of this idea, but it doesn't seem to have hurt anything and the very shiny geode is now sitting prettily next to my plant on a shelf).

"If love is the treasure, laughter is the key" -Yakov Smirnoff