quite the collection

summer plans....

Loads of Camping

Running the summer Reading clinical and WRITING

Beach with Louie, Debbie, Steve, Sandy, Brian, Cynthia and SEVEN kiddos.

Elizabeth to California

stressed yet in love

I cannot believe that I (we) will be married in five days. 5 DAYS! That is 12o hours! Plans are all coming together but each little piece is creating stress. Stress is just my body's response to handle external (or internal) "difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension" (dictionary.com). As much as my cognitive understanding allows me to see the situation objectively - my inate worrisome personality screams, "Mindy Mindy Mindy, get it together." Though each step of the way I have been prepared and organized, there are now hundreds (literally, I am not exaggerating) decisions to be made. My current job at MU allows me to cruise along with very few sitations that question or seek explanation of my decisions.... yet this wedding has given me numerous opportunties to grow and allow my decisions to be questions, opionion to be altered, and discussions to ensue. All of life is allowing me to grow and expand my thoughts by questioning and full discovery. Maybe thats why I am orchestrating this celebration of my wedding... it to grow. God, give me the patience to get through this week, so that next week will allow my life to resume to normal. What is normal? Who knows, but it is about planning a wedding 24/7 while still happy and living in the moment! Mantra.... The celebration of the wedding day event is simply to welcome us into the married world. The marriage is the imporant aspect, not the ceremony.

All that I know for sure is that I adore Nathan.

wink wink

I have a secret... wink wink

here's a sneak peek

one wish

If I had a wish....

I would take a giant snowglobe,

Fill it with sprinkled magic dust,

Insert this stone statue from the Carriage Trail,

Place this special memory of three happy kids playing and laughing,

Swish and shake to keep it forever.

these things I know

These things I know today....

- cottage cheese taste better with peaches on top

- the last few cold days of spring are the hardest to bear

- the remote is always lost when I am most tired and just want to watch tv

- Missy ordering porkchops just to be sent home with me is heavenly leftovers

- two little fellas starting baseball tomorrow is all American

- reminder that I am to marry in 8 days is delightful

- hugging Harry after a month of missing him tonight was worth the wait

- white wine is the only wine to be enjoyed with popcorn

- the purple crocus reminding me to just hold on for warm weather does help

- seeing Nate carry a chair for another woman makes my heart warm with his chilvary

- making up the guest bed for Julie would have been easier had I not been skipping and whistling

- our home feels warm with lots o'kids packed in

just breathe and relax

i am waiting for the day that i can sun with reckless abandonment.

nothing required and no worries allowed.

chance created this whole experience based on his idea

how do we lose that reckless abondement that allows us to just do what feels right?

It is a constant struggle to do what society says is right and what I deeply feel is right?

So... I challenge myself to be as Chance.... what feels right?

What exactly exemplifies my beliefs? I will strive to demonstrate that!

WV Times.... best sellers list

Possible Book Title from the Allenger/Eplings best sellers List...

NonFiction Feature List

= How to Potty Train and Still Have a Life

= Learning to love your partner's Ex

= Top Five Places to Picnic in Charleston

= Wedding Planning for Dummies

Fiction Feature List

= Life without Mom or Dad on Monday's at 8:00 pm

= Duh?

= Diary of a Wimpy Cat

= Are you there God, It's Me Mindy?

going bold

If I were brave, what would I be doing?

Would I be hiking the Apalachian Trail with Nate?

If I were brave, would I be speaking in front of even larger groups about my love for reading?

If I were brave, would I be sky dive in the cool mornings?

If I were brave, what would I be doing?

i am in love

www.wordle.net

is my new love

just go there, hit the CREATE button and type in random words

then you will see why my love is real and will last forever

hee hee

I am using this as a large psoter for the wedding too!

slideshow

Nate and I (well actually me) are making a slideshow to run before the wedding. There is a large white wall at the front of the church, screaming to be used for pictures of.... well, US and the KIDS. So, I have been slowly gathering those picts into a slideshow and I end up getting choked up and teary eyed each time I sit down in preparation. I cant help but feel so dang lucky to have Nate and our lives together. He is so funny! He can make any moment humorous - anything to make me laugh or see the light side of life. Where I can begin to worry and fret, he is straightforward and living much more in the moment. When I look back on this slideshow on our 20th wedding anniversary, I will remember that each picture brought a smile... and a sentimental tissue moment.

a forceful push to grow up

E really challenges me to grow into adult, day after day. Even when I simply want to argue with her, try to boss her around, or to be negative in an immature way - she reminds me that I am the adult. Sometimes I want to lay in the mud and think bad thoughts of something or someone.... she is truly the reminder that there is always a reason or an experience behind the way the person is behaving. How does this happen? I have birthed a Shaman or a Buddist. Someone that is wise and kind.... all the time.

timing of five

Trying to get a timed family shot, is kinda like our family timing. There is always a variation of feeling, moods, activities, hunger, responsibilities. We aim for one shot to get us all together, yet, the timing is always a bit off, even if just a second or two. Instead we aim to all be at least in the same picture. on the same page.

same brown leather couch

same Big Red Truck

same pew at Unity

same table at TGIFridays

same book for bed time

same XBox playset

same tent in the forest

So, we arent asking for it all to be perfect just in the same picture.

YEEE HAH!

It's sunny & warm!

such a short time

Teaching Sunday School frequently feels like a burden. I tentatively check the SS schedule sometime around Wednesday, hoping to see someone, anyone elses name on the list... just not mine. Yet, as soon as I get to Unity and see the kids - I am in amazement that I get to enjoy these children/teens for a bit. Then the SS time seems to slip by so quickly as we move from one short learning experience to the next. I just want to bottle these precious moments up that I have children in my life. Right now is the day that I still have some influence on their spiritual growth and love for God. Unity reminds me that we are all children of God and that means that I are inherently perfect. (that is hard even to just write, must less to truly believe it deep down). Perfect to fumble through a SS lesson, perfect to make a mess of the SS room, perfect to want to hug every little one as they pass by, perfect to sing off key with the kids. It is not what we do that makes us perfect, we are already perfect - just for being. So, as Wednesday passed and I noticed that I do teach this weekend... I did feel the few seconds of dread but I know that this Sunday, like all Sundays for the rest of my life, I will love that hour of the week most of all.

We can feel spring!!

Just being outside without coats and snow boots feels so free. Free to skip and jump - moving like the cool wind that is welcoming spring in. Our family is a spring family, craving the sun and the open windows. This summer we have such plans to celebrate the warm weather in sweet simple ways; hikes, fishing, playgrounds, camping, picnics, & swimming.

i miss that man in the work boots

Nate is at work out of town for so long.

It will be hours and days! It even feels like weeks.

Oh, ok - its only going to be 3 days and 2 nights but I still miss him.

gentle model

Its like something wonderful just drop from the heavens - just for me.

Before me was placed a kind, sweet and guiding friend.

I didn't even realize that I was searching for a role model to help shape my future path and family behavior. Instead, in steps Debbie into my life. Someone that loves Nate as much (or more) than I do and reminds me daily, from her example to put family first.

notes of love

Ahhh, I hate to brag - yet I will. Nate still writes me love letters. I realize that it is difficult to believe - and even nauseating that someone is still that sappy sweet after two years.

But he really does leave me love notes around the house at totally unexpected times. I came into my office today and just like manna from heaven, there was a love note stuck in a picture frame. I squealed like a 7 year old girl that just got a sweet love pinch from the cutest, freckled face, green eyed boy in school. I am one giddy girl!

lent begins

Promise for Lent.

I am giving up....

I am giving up cursing. It sounds awful, but when I am mad or totally frustrated - I cuss. Its gross, crass, and an awful example for Elizabeth.

I am adding....

I am adding the daily reminder to concentrate on today, right now. I want to savor each second, not worrying about tomorrow or regretting yesterday.

Happy March

Dear March,

I am writing to request a simple little favor. Well, you see... I have been a very patient and kind person through the snow and cold - yet the weather is such a struggle to get past. So, I am asking for a small favor of warm, mild weather. Just a spot of sunshine each day, blue skies, and a warm breeze creeping around the circle. Thats all, warmer weather for a warmer me!

Thanks in advance my sweet March,

Mindy